Five years later, we were still locked up, celebrating Mass in the parish church so it could be followed on YouTube.

Here’s the homily for Laetare Sunday that year:

They could say that to me: you were born in sin, and are you going to teach us lessons? Well, no. But we are going to talk a little about today’s Gospel.

Lord, may I see. The second reading ended with: “Awake, O sleeper, arise from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” I believe we need to wake up to increase our faith. The faith of many was asleep, and perhaps mine too.

So, wherever you are, wherever you see this, awaken Christians, your family, awaken them to the faith, ask them to open your heart to the Lord, because man looks at the eyes and God looks at the heart. Also, awaken your parish priest, ask him to speak to you, call him, ask him how he is. And if you want, taking all the emergency needs, all the precautions, ask him for Communion or the sacraments.

Today they called me that a woman here in town is dying, but she has received her sacraments, she is at peace. And she is going to meet God.

Perhaps you didn’t understand the song at the beginning. It’s the song titled “Exodus” from the Charlton Heston movie The Ten Commandments. And it’s the one I played at home when my mother died. Because it was the departure of the people of Israel to the promised land. Yes. We are going to the promised land. And it’s okay to talk a little about death. But opening our eyes to see like the blind man who couldn’t see, seeing eternal life, that your parents, your grandparents, and so many loved ones are there, the priests of this town we have missed.

Some young people too. That’s why it’s a time to think about that day. It’s true that loved ones can leave us; it’s true that they’re leaving all day long. In fact, I never say Mass today for more than one person, and today I don’t know if it’s for eight. Because we can’t pray enough for all the families and all the people who are missing, here in the town and beyond. But let’s open our eyes, a little, to eternal life. Let’s enter into the presence of God and entrust ourselves to the Virgin. Let’s tell her how our day is going. Here, everyone does what they can. The tractor drivers fumigate the streets. The girls take care of the grandparents. The parents are with their children, those who can. The only ones who are alone are the sick. Therefore, if you are sick and you see me from here, today I pray for you, for your family, for the people you love. Today I pray that our hearts may have the Lord within them, that we may think more of Him. And I pray for those who lack faith or who are suffering especially at this moment, that the Lord may open their hearts, open their eyes, and that they may be aware of all the good, all the good they do and have done. With a little faith or a lot. But with a good heart, the one that looks to God.

My grandmother used to say: “Look, God is looking at you, look, He is watching you, look, you are going to die, look, you don’t know when.” Therefore, with our hearts filled with the joy of the Lord’s Day, with our eyes on heaven and our feet on the ground, let us pray today for that moment and prepare our souls to present ourselves before God and be able to say to Him, look, Lord, I have nothing. The only thing I have is your death on the cross, your passion, your resurrection, your blood, which cleanses our sins, which makes us saints, and which can make you today a transmitter of peace, joy, hope, and happiness.

Here in the bell tower, Lenten songs used to be played, now even sevillanas are played. So open the window and listen to them, or play them in your house, since everyone can play music now. What we can’t do is shrink our hearts, crawl under the bed, and say, I’m afraid, I don’t want to do anything. I know you’re afraid; everyone is afraid, even firefighters when there’s a fire. And it’s incredibly hard to see them say goodbye to their families; I’ve seen it in Almodóvar de Pinar. So now, to those close to you, tell them you love them, that you’re with them, that if they need you, they can count on you, don’t isolate yourself. We’re already isolated enough from everything without you isolating yourself from your family too. At mealtimes, speak, express what’s inside you, tell your mother, your father, or your children what you feel. And, if you can, contribute in whatever way you can. Some make supplies for hospitals, others sing from the window, others go out to applaud at eight in the evening. I applaud, but I’m alone on the street.

That’s why it’s most important. Wherever your treasure is, there is your heart. And today, Our treasure is here, on the altar of the people, in your parish, in your tabernacle. Truly, wherever you are from, whatever you have inside your soul, your heart, and your mind, I pray for you today.

So be it.