These are strange days…
I feel like we live in the beginnings of a dystopian novel. It all started with news about a mysterious virus across the world. People didn’t take much notice of it, at first; we just went on with our lives and prayed for those infected…over there, wherever there was. Then, cases cropped up in Europe and other parts of Asia. People began wearing masks in public; toilet paper became a commodity; rumors started circulating. Now, businesses are closed, people are locked behind closed doors, and everyone is hunkering down for the foreseeable future.
But unlike a dystopian novel, this is reality. However, like that same novel, there are heroes who will help right our situation. They don’t come in the form of angsty teens, set out to flip a current status quo. Instead, the heroes of today are reading this article. One of them is the grocery store attendant; the mother of three who is desperately trying to keep it together while dealing with throngs of scared and ravenous consumers. On her team she has the shelf re-stocker—a young man picking opportune moments to take needed supplies and make them available for purchase; the cleaning crew that comes in and kills germs with their weapons of sanitary salvation; the managers who ensure that goods will continue to be available. This is just one battleground.
In another part of our story, we have healthcare professionals of all kinds: Janitors, Nurses, Administrators, Doctors, Volunteers. All of these form a super-team of brave individuals who are putting themselves in danger to care for those afflicted. Twenty hour shifts are commonplace for most of these folks; their days containing little sleep, they continue to serve while they fight to find a way to heal. For them, rest is fleeting and danger is immanent.
Yet again, elsewhere in our tale, we discover small bands of vigilantes roaming the streets and taking food to the hungry, caring for those who can’t do so for themselves, and making trips to the pharmacy for medicine for pre-existing conditions that have little to do with this virus. The stories go on and on. A myriad of heroes are showing up in all facets of life, doing their part to counteract the effects of this antagonistic pandemic.
And, lest we forget, we haven’t mentioned the main protagonist of this story. The one we all must look to for hope. For grace. For comfort. For healing.
Our faith places us alongside the people mentioned above. Just like they’re doing their part to combat this virus, we also have ours to play. Our faith in Christ must shine brighter than ever, our prayers must be shouted louder and more frequently. Our misgivings must be placed at the altar of the One who has already defeated death and overcome adversity. We must pray for the heroes out there: the people who stock shelves, the doctors, the nurses, the food-delivery folks, the janitors, the trash collectors, the volunteers. And, if possible, we will continue to be some of those folks, too. Because this isn’t the end of our story. Our tale started well over two thousand years ago and will continue to be told for generations. This is simply a point in the book of life that will challenge us to be better than we were, to reach for faith and hold on tight when the days become difficult.
All of us has a role to play in this story. Whether it’s on the front line or in a darkened room, we can all impact what’s happening around us. Be kind to one another, remember that we’re in this together. Set aside petty grievances and look beyond them. Pray without ceasing, love without condition, serve without fear. Check on those who are more vulnerable to this moment and see if they need your help. If you’re among the vulnerable, reach out and someone will take your hand. There’s nothing we can’t do if we band together and act as intended, operating like the Body of Christ in a broken world.
Continue to take meals to folks. Continue to pray. Continue to bring hopeful words to the hurting. This is not our final chapter. Our story lives on through you.
Be heroes.
Faithfully,
Fr. Sean+