Last week, members of the St. Charles Confirmation Candidates of 2020 shared reflections they had about portions of Matthew’s Gospel that spoke to them about having faith during our current crisis. Below are further reflections from two other members of the Confirmation class:

He got into a boat and his disciples followed him.
Suddenly a violent storm came up on the sea,
so that the boat was swamped by waves; but he was asleep.
They came and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save us! We are perishing!’
He said to them, ‘Why are you terrified, O you of little faith?’
Then he got up, rebuked the winds and the sea,
and there was great calm.
The men were amazed and said, What sort of man is this,
whom even the winds and the sea obey?”
(Matthew 8: 23-27)

I chose “Jesus Calms a Storm” because it relates to the pandemic because it shows that if we have faith we will get through this.  Jesus showed his followers that if they had faith then they would survive the storm.  Even though we are going through a hard time in this pandemic we should have faith like Jesus showed by calming the storm.  Faith will give us comfort and get us through this hard time and the pandemic will pass by. – Jack K.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
(Matthew 5: 3-4)

The Lord many times finds ways to comfort us through his words, symbolism, and actions, especially in times of pain, sadness and despair. This short passage is a great example of this, especially now, going through these strange times. Personally, I see this passage as a way for us to remember that though we are all isolated at home, we are not alone. That we have the Lord at our side, and are still members of an important community, our church. – Gabriel T.