Faith in the time of COVID-19

     I recently read an article in America Magazine, a Jesuit publication, about faith in these challenging times.  The author states that the pandemic raises medical, ethical, and logistical questions.  It raises questions of faith as well.  The author proposes several suggestions from the Ignatian sphere of Catholic spirituality.

      First, we are called to resist panic and fear.  We are to find God in the midst of our reality.  Panic and fear take us away from God.  We are to look into our faith and into our hearts, to continue to practice our faith.  

       Second, we are not to demonize others.  One thing we have learned through these past months is that we all react differently and we approach these challenges in our lives in different ways.  We are called to be respectful of others and to respect and protect the safety of others.  

        Third, we are called to care for the sick and to reach out to others in need.  Recently, I called a friend who is a doctor in Tupelo, who is going through the challenges of taking care of COVID-19 patients and seeing many of them suffer and die.  I promised her that I would pray for her and thanked her for her spirit of love and service during these challenging times.  

        Next, we are to pray.  There are many because of their underlying health issues and their vulnerability, they cannot physically return to mass.  Those who cannot physically return to mass can watch mass online and can unite their prayers with the prayers of the community of saints and the community of faith here on earth.  We can find creative ways to live out our faith even in these challenging times.

        Finally, we are to trust and remember that God is with us.  Jesus lived in a world where illness was even more serious and widespread, where lifespans are much shorter than they are now.  He had a presence with the people.  He lived with them in their need and in their suffering.  God is with us as well, including in circumstance that we do not quite understand.  God understands our fears and our worries.

        Blessings to all of you during these challenging times.  Prayers for all of you.