HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG? A Prayer Lamentation

     

HOW LONG, O LORD, HOW LONG? A Prayer Lamentation
by Audric Tagarino

Diocese of Kalookan Bishop Pablo Virgilo David has been very vocal in showing his opinion regarding various issues of concern, especially at the height of the Duterte administration and its war on drugs. As the COVID-19 pandemic plagued the country, he composed a prayer, a prayer of lamentation expressing his sorrow on the situation of our country. The following is the English translation of the said prayer: 

How long O Lord, will you make me celebrate Mass without joy before empty pews?

How long will you make me preach a homily to a camera and imagine people attending virtually from their homes?

How long will I break the Eucharistic bread and have no one to partake it with?

How long will we keep reciting the “oratio imperata” which we have prayed for more than a whole year already?

How long before we can again sing our hearts out in Church, belt out our praise songs or just speak in tongues again?

How long before we can ever see a joyful smile again behind those masks and face shields?

How long before we can ever again hold, or shake, or kiss each other’s hands?

How long will we have to leave our loved ones to suffer or die alone in a hospital ICU?

How long will we have to endure the loss of our loved ones without the chance of grieving together, of hugging or embracing each other or wiping away each other’s tears?

How long will you keep our elders deprived of confession, communion, or even just the joy of visiting you again in the Blessed Sacrament?

How long before we can hear again the welcome noise and comforting giggles of children inside our chapels and churches?

How long will the list of Mass intentions for the sick, the dying and the dead keep getting longer?

How long o Lord? How long? 

Just like us, priests have also been affected by the pandemic. Churches had been closed for a period of time, in particular whenever the Enhanced Community Quarantine is raised on a certain area. Whenever churches reopen, it follows guidelines set by the COVID Task Force. Seating is limited on a specific percentage, depending on which quarantine classification the locality follows. Like other non-religious establishments, the Church has been struggling to keep itself afloat in this pandemic, relying on monetary help from its parishioners. Whenever churches close, priests resort to going virtual - delivering their services via Facebook Live or other available means. Bishop David's lamentations are our lamentations too. We long to see the smiles of other people. We long to hug and kiss the people we hold dear. We long to be together, without the worry of getting sick due to a virus. We all long for normality. The bishop's lamentations are the lamentations of regular priests as well. It is but sad to officiate Mass without the presence of a huge crowd you got used to. It is sad to hear or see the long list of people who are under the "for the Sick"  and "for the Repose of the Souls" portion of Mass Intentions. It is sad to not see the people you got used to see in church, particularly the elderly. The current situation is really a sad situation. The prayer of Bishop David is really everyone's prayer too. Every person in the whole world can relate to it. A priest in America can relate to it. A student in Korea can relate to it. A nurse in Cambodia can also relate to it. Anyone can relate to a text released in the time of pandemic since the whole world continues to experience it, even with the presence of vaccines and other medications.

Link to the original Facebook post by Bishop Ambo