Wednesday of the Second Week in Easter, April 22, 2020

John 3:16-21

God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him. Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only-begotten Son of God. And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed. But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.

The night before last I was called in to the hospital to administer Last Rites for a man who was dying of cancer and who had also become infected with the COVID virus.  The COVID patients are secluded in a particular ward of the hospital and the sliding glass doors to their rooms are kept shut.  It is a bit of business for me as a priest to get into the hospital.  Family members of the sick are usually not allowed in at all.  The hallways are empty, the wards are very quiet.  Doctors, nurses, and staff all wear masks and gloves.  In order to enter the hospital, my credentials had to be checked, a special bar code adhesive ID badge was printed up for me, and a nurse took my temperature.  This all took place in the emergency room, which has been practically deserted except for staff during my visits over the last month.  

I stood outside the room in which lay the man I came to see, and looked at him through the glass door.  Only the nurses and doctors can enter.  He seemed unconscious.  The person receiving Last Rites does not need to be conscious, and, in my experience, seldom is.  The essence of Last Rites is the Apostolic Pardon, which not only absolves a person from sin, but releases him or her from all punishments due to sin in this life or the next.  Here is an English translation: “May our Lord Jesus Christ, who gave to his blessed Apostle Peter the power of binding and loosing, mercifully accept your confession and restore your baptismal garment.  And I, by the power given me by the Apostolic See, grant you a full pardon and remission of all your sins.  In the Name of the Father, + and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit.  Through the holy mysteries of the restoration of mankind, may almighty God remit all your punishments of the present and future life, may he open to you the gates of Paradise, and lead you to eternal joys.  Amen.”  The Scriptural basis for the power of binding and loosing of sin is found in John 21, 23.

The words of the Pardon may be said quietly, but they have the powerful effect of making the soul of a human being ready for the flight to heaven.  At the reception of the Pardon, all of heaven rejoices, and all of hell shudders.  The person’s guardian angel cries out with joy.  

Our God so desperately desires us to believe in him and to love him so as to live with him eternally.  Let us believe with all our hearts so that we may love with all our hearts.