Masks were on the mind of the Rev. James Fetscher, pastor of Saint Sebastian Church in Fort Lauderdale, both spiritual and physical in these days of COVID-19.

Long after the days of the Lone Ranger TV show, the reality of wearing a mask has shifted from covering up around the eyes to covering from the nose down.

“I guess I didn’t realize how significant COVID-19 really is,” Fetscher said in the Aug. 23 church bulletin. "Imagine challenging the Lone Ranger’s title ‘masked man’ and changing it to ‘masked multitude.’ COVID-19 is scrambling our eggs.”

Fetscher wrote that he realized how much he depended on reading lips now that he can’t see them and finds himself asking “Sorry, what did you say?”

The 79-year-old pastor noted that a visit to Dr. Anthony Schiuma— unrelated to COVID-19— revealed the doctor’s sense of humor; as he told Fetscher, “One good thing about that age: you don’t have to worry about dying young.”

But joking aside, Fetscher has been surprised how few people he recognized quickly with everyone wearing masks.

“I find myself listening much more carefully for the reasons mentioned above,” Fetscher said in the bulletin. “But more than that, really listening to someone doesn’t come easily. We can be in situations where we hear a lot of things, and obviously you do some filtering, trying to sort out the important from the casual.”

The scriptures for the week of Aug. 12 shared pictures of Eliakim and Peter. Eliakim was named master of the palace because Shebna had his “hand in the till.”

Jesus recognized Peter had received Divine insight; because when Jesus asked “Who do you say that I am?”, Peter replied, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

One form of recognition was about dishonesty and the other about truth.

“Jesus challenges us to look at Him as He lowers his mask," Fetscher said. "Peter comes to see Jesus by really pondering the question, “Who do YOU say that I am?”; not what others say, but you.”

But what about us? 

“If I want Jesus to ask me that question, it means He is willing to lower his mask to truly see Him, and I must lower my mask so He hears my unmuffled answer," Fetscher said.

Some days Fetscher is not sure he wants Jesus to see him as he faces his own failings. But his unmasked "yes" of mercy shows masks don’t work.

“I thank God that I can’t hide from him,” Fetscher said in the bulletin.