Isaiah 30:19-21, 23-26. Happy are all who long for the coming of the Lord – Psalm 146(147):1-6. Matthew 9:35 – 10:1, 6-8.

Seemingly endless COVID-19 lockdowns can have a similar effect. Jesus gave the disciples power to cure various ills and to drive out evil spirits. Random acts of kindness during the pandemic can be transformative. A mother’s plea to neighbours to brighten her son’s fifth birthday, with a pirate theme, resulted in an avalanche of cards, letters, cakes and gifts. The best was a letter from a real pirate complete with ragged, burnt edges.A columnist wrote of sending her friends fun gifts such as socks with rats on them or a Garfield T-shirt. Others reported baked goods or pot plants left on a neighbour’s doorstep. Phone calls to elderly or isolated people can end up revitalising both people. Handwritten cards allow children to experience the thrill of a letter in the mail.