VIRAL THOUGHTS - FAITH IN A TIME OF EPIDEMIC

None of us can be unmoved by the reports concerning the Covid-19 pandemic which has suddenly infected the world, changing our behaviour and, on an almost daily basis, the way we live.  Some sporting events have now been cancelled and the Archbishop’s of Canterbury and York have just sent out instructions that the chalice is not to be offered for the duration.  This will be a step some find hard to accept, although I know most will understand it is for the common good.  As I pointed out before, to receive only the Host is not to receive less of the grace conferred by the Sacrament – Christ cannot be divided.  It’s one of the reasons why the priest places a portion of a Host into the Chalice before communion.    

This is a time when we depend on those medical experts who are qualified to give good advice, and to make sure we follow it as best we can – and if you’re fed up with singing Happy Birthday twice as you wash your hands, you may prefer to say the Hail Mary – which has the added benefit of being a prayer.  But there are deeper issues which our Faith addresses and I wanted to say a few things about that this morning as it may be our churches have to close.

The world has not faced a pandemic like this since the outbreak of ‘Spanish’ ‘flu at the close of the First World War.  There have been other epidemics – Ebola, for example – but most hardly affected countries outside parts of Africa or Asia.  Now, suddenly, the wider world is involved.  When I look at what’s happening in some places it makes me wonder if we’re experiencing something of the fear, concern and panic that must have affected people when war was declared in 1939.  Will I be safe?  How will I get food for the family?  What will happen to my job?  What will be the consequences?  Will I die?  And older people, those with certain existing health problems or who know someone at risk, are rightly concerned.  More and more cases are being reported of people suffering from anxiety and depression due to fears about the virus.  There’s nothing wrong with feeling deeply disturbed, but we need to have faith that God is with us, no matter what happens.  That is why we pray ‘thy will be done’; in His will is our peace.  With that in mind, Bp. Jonathan of Croydon has written:

‘Our response to the coronavirus can’t be merely pragmatic, still less fearful – it must be informed by our faith in God.  We come into God’s presence recognising our weakness, our sin and our fear – and opening ourselves to be filled again with God’s gifts of faith, hope and love.  In the incarnation of Christ, God comes to share all our human state, including our desire to avoid suffering – ‘Father if this cup can pass from me’, Jesus prayed in Gethsemane – but with complete trust and commitment to do whatever was the Father’s will.  Because he has passed through death and defeated death, we too can approach whatever may come, knowing that God will be walking with us.’

We have faced situations like this before, but from a background of faith.  Not that God will suddenly end an epidemic or plague but that we trust that God will never forsake us.  In His Will we trust.  It’s not that there’s no point in praying for a miracle – there’s every point in praying for a containment of the virus, that those who suffer will be made well and that a cure will be found.  But miracles are just that – they are out of the ordinary.  In the year 1230, for example, when Rome was suffering from the plague, Pope Gregory IX (a holy man and close to St Francis of Assisi) and people carried a portrait of our Lady through the city and the plague ended.  Icon kept in Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in Rome, but few in the UK have such faith. 

Looking forward it may be that large gatherings for Mass have to be cancelled – although I hope your midweek Masses can continue as well as times when the church can be open for prayer. Even though we may not be able to receive the Blessed Sacrament, we can continue to feed on Christ through deepening our prayer and Notes on how to do this available here, including some on a tradition known as ‘Spiritual Communion’ and other resources. I’d also encourage you to really listen to our Second Reading this morning from Paul’s Letter to the Romans (5:1-11).

At a time when we might feel fearful of the future, worried for ourselves and those we love or have a sense of deepening darkness, it’s vital that we maintain those practices of daily prayer and bible reading which give us life.  Past experience shows that now is the time to turn to God and say – ‘in Your will is my peace.’  The psalms, in particular, can be a real source of strength in facing the future, and if you cannot attend Mass on Sunday I would encourage you to read through the scriptures for the day when you make your Spiritual Communion.

In an uncertain time like this God isn’t a heavenly insurance policy: Christ was not rescued from suffering but was faithful through it.  In fact, what he experienced only deepened his faith in his Father and, through the Resurrection, was profoundly made whole.  This is what we recall during Lent as we look forward to Passiontide and Easter.  We may have to pass through our own Holy Week, but God drew Christ through suffering into new life.  That’s the faith we have and which we need at a time like this and which, as Bp. Jonathan went on to say:

’In the light of that wholeness and that promise, we can live the life we are given with the joy that Christ gives, day by day, looking forward to the fullness of eternal life.’ 

And with that faith it’s important we allow it to inform our life.

It’s at times like this I realise how fortunate I am to be living in a country with a National Health Service.  And I wonder what it must be like for those who are homeless or living on our streets?  Or who are foreigners amongst us, or refugees?  To be a Christian means to be someone who follows the way of Christ, who welcomes the stranger and shows compassion to the foreigner.  We are not to do what some are doing – fight over supplies, be rude to shop staff, show impatience and anger.  Times like this reveal both the best in human nature as well as what happens when we allow it to become corrupted – and it’s not nice.  Whatever happens there’s every reason why we must continue to show compassion and kindness – anything else would mean we were less than human. 

At a time when it’s important to take sensible precautions, we mustn’t erect barriers but witness to the love of the God who breaks down barriers, who reaches out to embrace us, who heals and reconciles us by the gift of his own body, his own blood, of which we are part through baptism.  As our bishops have written:

‘We continue to be the Body of Christ and in the face of perils and adversity we become yet more the Church, for it is by encountering these challenges in a right spirit and trusting in God that we are forged into the image of Christ and become the people God made us to be.  May we encounter such trials as may come our way in a hopeful spirit.   Let us then be of good courage, sensible and cautious, but not anxious and fearful: and may the light of Christ that he has given to burn in us and… shine brightly in these days.

As we make our journey towards Holy Week and Easter the Way of the Cross will be very much before us this year.  We will be bringing the suffering of many to the foot of the Cross from which Our Lord extended his saving love for the world and for us all.’

Finally, if it helps, the Diocese of St Alban’s have published four ‘Golden Rules’ to help us at this time:

Rule One: think about how you can protect and support your neighbours and stop spreading fear about the other.  Don’t demonise anyone or any group.

Rule Two: Think about who may be suffering more than you.  Let each church undertake an audit of all the vulnerable people you know and share out the responsibility to phone them each day – a friendly voice offers solace when someone is worried.

Rule Three. Don’t give into panic and start hoarding food.  Ask your neighbours what they need and do your best to help them get it because if you’re are self-isolating, you’ll need someone to help you.

Rule Four. Live today to the full.  None of us ever know what the future holds so do not be afraid.  Every time we are tempted to give in to fear we need to make a conscious choice to respond in trust, as the psalmist said:

‘Whenever I am afraid, I will put my trust in you;

in God whose word I praise.

In God I trust and will not be afraid,

what can mortals do to me.’ (56.3f)

So, when you leave Mass this morning, look out for the wonder of God in little things – the buds opening on trees, tiny violets smiling through the grass, daffodils waving in the wind – and let your heart offer thanks. Let us pray:

Loving God,
source of healing and comfort,
at this time of fear fill us with your grace
that the sick may be made whole,
this virus contained and a cure may be found.
Strengthen those who care for the sick,
calm the anxious,
protect the most vulnerable
and help us see your beauty in the world.
This we ask in the power of Spirit
and in the faith of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Fr. John-Francis Friendship
15.03.2020

(Parts of this article reflect the writings of Jonathan, Bishop of Croydon, the Diocese of St. Alban’s and the Dean of Southwark)