Transformative Trust in the Face of the Coronavirus
My husband told me the song "It's the End of the World as We Know It" is back on the charts. It seems appropriate as the world is changing, and there could be more changes ahead of us. At this time, there are both the familiar - in the seasons and outdoors, in the family we have gathered around us, and in the conveniences we have in our home - and the unfamiliar - restaurants, theaters, and some stores being closed, children home from school, keeping our distance from friends. And there's the unknown; there's navigating the unknown waters and new ill-understood and ill-defined social norms. Do I let my kids play with friends, limiting it to two or three total? Do we go to stores to buy essentials? Am I putting my family's and my life in danger by doing seemingly innocuous, everyday things?
A friend made the comment that she feels as if the world is hanging on by a thread. This time we are in can certainly give that impression. For some, including her, this quarantine has changed the very fabric of their lives, and very little is the same.
There's the question of the future. Will we recover? Will the Coronavirus subside? Will things return to the way they were? Will businesses and non-profits be able to withstand this and reopen? Will families survive financially? How will this affect people's mental health, their values, and the norms of our society? And - dare I even ask - who will be taken from us? Will we lose family or friends?
I hope things will get better soon and that our questions will be answered in a way that is easy and painless, but I fear they may get worse before they get better.
What do we have to hold on to at this time in the face of such unknowns? Or Whom do we have to hold on to? We must turn to God and cling to Him. Cardinal Robert Sarah stated in a recent letter, "It is now, in this time when the Coronavirus oppresses the peoples of the whole world, that we must turn with more intensity, confidence and truth towards God, entrusting ourselves to His Fatherly tenderness.... 'Live in prayer and supplication; pray at all times in the Spirit, with tireless vigilance...' (Eph 6:18)."
Even if it appears that things are out of control, and even if they begin to appear hopeless, He is still in control. The victory is assured - and the victory, that of life over death, has already been had. Anything else is only in appearance, is only a veil of the reality.
Oh, it is so easy to doubt, especially at a time like this, when all seems to be turned upside down. But God is faithful now just as He always is. He loves us and does not turn His back on us. He takes care of us.
Those who have experienced God's faithfulness know Him to be faithful. Yet, at a time like this, it is easy for fear or concern to override that trust in His faithfulness. The problems loom large. Now more than ever, we need to hold fast to Him.
I believe this is a time of opportunity. This is a time of mercy. This is a time when we are being called to approach Him, to open our arms and our hearts more fully to Him.
We are being given the gift of time. Until now, we are a busy people. We are always running this way and that, dropping kids off at school, leaving for meetings, fulfilling obligations. Now many of us are home with fewer things needing our attention. We can slow down. We can find time for quiet. We can take time to read scripture or other spiritual reading. We can begin more earnestly to pray. It is an opportunity.
Masses and other church services and meetings are put on hold. This is difficult for many of us to accept, but it is out of our control. In most cases, our churches are still available for quiet prayer, and there are Masses being posted or transmitted online such as those by Bishop Robert Barron or Fr. Michael Schmitz. We can also pray at home or outdoors. God is present everywhere and always, not just during Mass. This is an opportunity and a calling to see God in everything, to look around us and open our eyes to His presence, to know that we can encounter Him as we take time to appreciate His creation and the gifts He is giving to us: the rain falling and dripping off the trees, the birds chirping to welcome spring, the sun shining on our faces, the laughter or even the cries of our children, that word of encouragement we needed or scripture verse that spoke to our hearts. He is there. We can begin to pray constantly by being aware of His presence all around us and within us. It is an opportunity.
People throughout the world are in great need, and never before have we all stood in solidarity in our need and, at the same time, been so aware of our solidarity. There are so many needs and so many opinions. But it can no longer be us against them. We are all together in this. Our world needs God's grace and healing power. We need to offer our prayers and sacrifice. God has given us free will and will not force Himself upon the world. We need to invite Him. We need to respond to the love He gives us by giving Him love in return. And we need to trust Him, even throwing ourselves on Him and on His mercy and His grace. The problems here are too big for any of us or even for all of us together, but they are not too big for our all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God. He can work miracles. He is our hope. He is our savior. In Him, we must trust.
We need to believe with all we are that God can and will help us, that He can and will lift us up and bring something wonderful out of this. This is an unprecedented time; it will also be an unprecedented time of God's grace if all the faithful turn to Him in prayer, in love, and in surrender, inviting, by our example and by our prayers for God's grace, others to join us in giving ourselves to Him and putting ourselves in His loving and capable hands.
It is an opportunity, a gift from God.
A friend made the comment that she feels as if the world is hanging on by a thread. This time we are in can certainly give that impression. For some, including her, this quarantine has changed the very fabric of their lives, and very little is the same.
There's the question of the future. Will we recover? Will the Coronavirus subside? Will things return to the way they were? Will businesses and non-profits be able to withstand this and reopen? Will families survive financially? How will this affect people's mental health, their values, and the norms of our society? And - dare I even ask - who will be taken from us? Will we lose family or friends?
I hope things will get better soon and that our questions will be answered in a way that is easy and painless, but I fear they may get worse before they get better.
What do we have to hold on to at this time in the face of such unknowns? Or Whom do we have to hold on to? We must turn to God and cling to Him. Cardinal Robert Sarah stated in a recent letter, "It is now, in this time when the Coronavirus oppresses the peoples of the whole world, that we must turn with more intensity, confidence and truth towards God, entrusting ourselves to His Fatherly tenderness.... 'Live in prayer and supplication; pray at all times in the Spirit, with tireless vigilance...' (Eph 6:18)."
Even if it appears that things are out of control, and even if they begin to appear hopeless, He is still in control. The victory is assured - and the victory, that of life over death, has already been had. Anything else is only in appearance, is only a veil of the reality.
Oh, it is so easy to doubt, especially at a time like this, when all seems to be turned upside down. But God is faithful now just as He always is. He loves us and does not turn His back on us. He takes care of us.
Those who have experienced God's faithfulness know Him to be faithful. Yet, at a time like this, it is easy for fear or concern to override that trust in His faithfulness. The problems loom large. Now more than ever, we need to hold fast to Him.
I believe this is a time of opportunity. This is a time of mercy. This is a time when we are being called to approach Him, to open our arms and our hearts more fully to Him.
We are being given the gift of time. Until now, we are a busy people. We are always running this way and that, dropping kids off at school, leaving for meetings, fulfilling obligations. Now many of us are home with fewer things needing our attention. We can slow down. We can find time for quiet. We can take time to read scripture or other spiritual reading. We can begin more earnestly to pray. It is an opportunity.
Masses and other church services and meetings are put on hold. This is difficult for many of us to accept, but it is out of our control. In most cases, our churches are still available for quiet prayer, and there are Masses being posted or transmitted online such as those by Bishop Robert Barron or Fr. Michael Schmitz. We can also pray at home or outdoors. God is present everywhere and always, not just during Mass. This is an opportunity and a calling to see God in everything, to look around us and open our eyes to His presence, to know that we can encounter Him as we take time to appreciate His creation and the gifts He is giving to us: the rain falling and dripping off the trees, the birds chirping to welcome spring, the sun shining on our faces, the laughter or even the cries of our children, that word of encouragement we needed or scripture verse that spoke to our hearts. He is there. We can begin to pray constantly by being aware of His presence all around us and within us. It is an opportunity.
People throughout the world are in great need, and never before have we all stood in solidarity in our need and, at the same time, been so aware of our solidarity. There are so many needs and so many opinions. But it can no longer be us against them. We are all together in this. Our world needs God's grace and healing power. We need to offer our prayers and sacrifice. God has given us free will and will not force Himself upon the world. We need to invite Him. We need to respond to the love He gives us by giving Him love in return. And we need to trust Him, even throwing ourselves on Him and on His mercy and His grace. The problems here are too big for any of us or even for all of us together, but they are not too big for our all-powerful, all-knowing, all-loving God. He can work miracles. He is our hope. He is our savior. In Him, we must trust.
We need to believe with all we are that God can and will help us, that He can and will lift us up and bring something wonderful out of this. This is an unprecedented time; it will also be an unprecedented time of God's grace if all the faithful turn to Him in prayer, in love, and in surrender, inviting, by our example and by our prayers for God's grace, others to join us in giving ourselves to Him and putting ourselves in His loving and capable hands.
It is an opportunity, a gift from God.
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