Due to the present danger brought by COVID-19 to the world, there would still be a celebration of the “mass”, but “mass gathering” should be avoided.
Parish priests and moderators will say mass even in the absence of the congregation or the faithful. They are obliged to say mass for the people. The Code of Canon Law (Canon 534 § 1) provides that, “After a pastor has taken possession of his parish, he is obliged to apply a Mass for the people entrusted to him on each Sunday and holy day of obligation in his diocese. If he is legitimately impeded from this celebration, however, he is to apply it on the same days through another or on other days himself.” In celebrating the mass FOR the people, it does not follow that it shall be celebrated WITH the people especially during these times when mass gatherings are restricted. But we need to say mass for the people especially during these times.
As Filipino citizens, we know how COVID-19 affects any person physically or fatally. The State, through the President, called on all of us to stay at home or to observe physical distance to avoid spreading the virus. Medical frontliners help us in this battle. As Catholics, we hardly notice how the devil works to tempt us during this COVID-19 outbreak. Celebrating the Holy Eucharist helps us in this kind of battle with the devil.
Remember the Gospel on the First Sunday of Lent (Matthew 4: 1-11)? It told us about the three temptations. The first is about turning stone to bread; bread as understood here is a food to eat (pagkain). Then there is some kind of immunity or invincibility granted by God (God’s angels will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone). And the last one is about falling down and worshiping the devil instead of God in exchange for worldly pleasure.
These three temptations are all real as we deal with this COVID-19 pandemic. When the President declared some areas in the country under enhanced community quarantine, and many local government officials also announced a lockdown in their respective territories, the first reaction or question they got from the people was “Where can we get our food?” Then there were those who did not take the virus seriously by violating the curfew perhaps with the belief that they are immuned or invincible or with the belief that the virus only kills old people but not the young ones. There were also those who shared a devil-may-care attitude, enjoying the parties outdoors and in. Then there were those who took advantage of the situation. Complaints about scams, pandemic profiteering and price gouging on essential goods are being reported to persons in authority. In fact, the Philippine National Police arrested hoarders of ethyl alcohol who were selling the essential items up to double the price.
Because of the drastic measures which the Philippines adopt to control the outbreak, particularly through lockdowns and curfew, many people become worried. The words lockdown and curfew prompt them to do panic buying. Out of fear, there were some who chose to go back to their province mostly outside of Metro Manila before the lockdown took effect.
Lockdown, a word which is used for the practice of isolating inmates, when used as an emergency measure during the COVID-19 outbreak means people are confined in their homes and are prohibited to leave unless for some grave reasons. It includes travel bans. It is even perceived to be worse than any war. It can cause stress to some, disruption of family affairs and changes in social behaviors. It somehow brings us back to the basic concept of survival of the fittest. (Hindi ka nga mamatay dahil sa virus, ngunit mamatay ka naman sa nerbyos o di kaya sa gutom.) Lockdown is fully understood by many in a positive way when medical frontliners made people aware of its importance through these messages “We go to work for you, please stay at home for us” and “We also have family but can’t stay home.” They put their lives at risk. Neither patients nor doctors would die due to COVID-19 if we only follow the directives of the government to stay at home. Nevertheless, THANKS to all medical frontliners especially to those doctors who died due to COVID-19 while trying to save the lives of COVID-19 patients. They lived a life worthy of the Gospel. The Gospel for the Second Sunday of Lent (Matthew 17: 1-9) told us how Jesus and his three disciples had a wonderful experience in the mountain. Peter wanted them to stay there. But Jesus led them down the mountain. In going down, Jesus had to go on with his ministry even if he knew it would cost him his life.
As the State declared travel bans, curfew, quarantine and lockdowns as an attempt to curtail the spread of the virus, the Catholic Church sua sponte declared that there will be no celebration of the Holy Mass with a large congregation and other religious activities during the Holy Week. Some Catholics started to hear mass literally through the aid of media like TV, radio, and internet. Others used print media to read the Gospel and some reflections provided by the Society of St. Paul and its publishing arm, St. Pauls. This change in the form of our worship brings back into our mind the Gospel during the Third Sunday of Lent (John 4: 5-42). Jesus said to the Samaritan woman, “Believe me, woman, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.” He added, “But the hour is coming, and is now here, when true worshipers will worship the Father in Spirit and truth; and indeed the Father seeks such people to worship him.” As a priest, I miss celebrating the mass with the people; and the people miss attending the mass in their parish with their priests. But Jesus taught us that this kind of hour will come for us to worship God in spirit and in truth wherever we are. This is the hour. And in this hour, I say to our parishioners and friends, do not just stay at home but PRAY AT HOME while we, priests, say mass for you.
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