Who Is My Neighbour in the Time of COVID-19

What is the Christian response to what can be considered the next stage of the Corona Virus?  We are entering a stage in which the self isolation, thank God, is beginning to be relaxed and we are able to take small steps forward into what may be the new normal in our lives – at least until a vaccine is developed.  We will begin to interact more with others.  Some stores and other facilities are beginning to open to the public, albeit with social distancing rules in place. 

One aspect of this new stage is the wearing of masks.  The message on this has been somewhat less than straight forward since the beginning of what can be called the time of COVID.  Whether you wear a mask or not when you are in these - now new - situations whenever you encounter others.  Should I wear one or should I just maintain strict social distancing – keeping that Canadian perspective of a hockey stick distance from other people.  Is there a particular Christian perspective on this question?

Let’s look at the factors we might consider in addressing this question.  First, it is important to remember that you wear a mask to protect other people – it will do little if anything to protect the wearer from the Corona Virus.  If you are infected it will reduce and, hopefully stop, the spread of droplets to other people you may be in Contact with.  Second, it is important to remember that you can be infectious even if you are asymptomatic i.e. have no symptoms.  On the other hand, wearing a mask can be inconvenient.  It can be uncomfortable and if you wear glasses, as I do, the glasses tend to fog up when you wear them.  And some people might even think that they look silly if other people around them – hopefully at least a hockey stick away – are not wearing one.  I think many of us do not like to be the odd-person-out in a group – after all, what would they think about me?

The primary consideration here is, I believe, that as Christians we are called to love one another and particularly to love our neighbours as ourselves.  We can show our love for our neighbours by following all the guidelines in this new stage of dealing with the Corona Virus and specifically by wearing a mask when we are in situation where we come into contact with others.  Others may think we are being silly and overly cautious and it might be a bit inconvenient but it is one way in which we can love our neighbours as ourselves.

Take a mask and use it on your journey.

We Will Remember Them

There is much to pray for these days – the multitude of the sick, those who have died, their loved ones, the front-line essential workers in this time of pandemic – all who have been affected of the Corona virus, to the victims of gun violence in Nova Scotia.  On Sunday, the bell at St. James Anglican Church in Parkhill tolled in memory of the six members of the Canadian Armed Forces who died in the helicopter crash on April 29^th.  The soldiers were serving as part of the NATO mission patrolling the Mediterranean and Black seas. 

The following prayers from the Royal Canadian Legion were recited and the bell tolled twelve times - twice for each fallen soldier:

Almighty God, You are our refuge and strength; we humble ourselves in Your presence, and, remembering the great things You have done for us, we lift up our hearts in adoration and praise. As You have gathered us together this day, we give You thanks for all who served their country in time of trial. In remembrance of those who made the supreme sacrifice, make us better men and women, and give us peace in our time, O Lord.   

“O God, we remember before you those who laid down their lives for freedom and truth. We commend their souls into your gracious keeping and pray that we may be worthy of their sacrifice.  Help us to be faithful and true to those ideals for which they fought and died.  May we continue to perpetuate the memory of our departed comrades by our service to country, community and comrades, and remembering our solemn obligation, may we ever pray - Lord God of Hosts; Be with us yet.”  

We remember especially this day:

Capt. Kevin Hagen, Sub-Lt. Abbigail Cowbrough, Capt. Brenden Ian MacDonald, Master Cpl. Matthew Cousins, Sub-Lt. Matthew Pyke, Capt. Maxime Miron-Morin

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.
We will remember them.

Their journey on this earth has ended, blessings on your journey.

Offering Our Suffering to God

It would be easy to question the efficacy of prayer in these times of the Corona virus pandemic.  Where is God?  How can God allow this to happen when so many innocent people are suffering and dying?  How can God let the world close down and allow so many people be the victims of the plague of famine?  How can God allow this? 

It would be easy for people to turn their backs and say there is no point in these futile prayers that seem to go into the depth of this darkness which has fallen on the world – which are swallowed up by the silence which seems to fill the vacuum that has been created by God’s seeming indifference?

I am not sure – perhaps I am sure that I do not have a good answer to these questions that have arisen this morning.  Perhaps the only answer is faith – faith that we are called to pray, to call out in our distress – to lament in this time when lamentation seems to be the best and only appropriate response.

Sunday, I was at St. James Anglican Church in Parkhill again to ring the bell at 9:00 a.m.  I have been doing this each Sunday beginning on Easter Sunday and, God willing, will continue to do it until we can meet in worship together.  At these times I offer a prayer despite any reservations I might have about the efficacy of prayer.  The prayer I used this Sunday was in response to the devastation which has been wrought by the Corona Virus.  The call to God is,” Out of the depths.”   We are calling from the depths of our despair, from the depths of our lamenting, out of the depth of our anger and frustration.  The response to this call is, “We cry out to you. Protect them.”

Out of the depths we cry out to you in the face of the Corona virus

Adapted from Anne and Jeffery Rowthorn, current Resident Scholars at the Collegeville Institute, wrote the following litany for use in places of worship in the midst of the spreading coronavirus.

Creator God of the universe, God of a thousand names and faces, divine source of health and wholeness, whose compassion embraces the entire community of Earth: behold your fearful people all over the world as we confront the corona virus. Out of the depths we cry to you, O God. Holy God, hear our voices. Let your ear be attentive to our cries as we pray for all who may be affected by the virus:

For all health caregivers – nurses, physicians, aides, EMTs, paramedics, technicians and therapists; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For hospital and nursing home medical staff, assistants, and housekeepers who have close contact with patients and for the patients themselves; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who travel for their daily work over land and sea and through the air—flight attendants, pilots, ship captains and sailors, bus drivers, passengers and long-distance truck drivers; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who handle money—bankers, supermarket, village market and convenience store cashiers; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who provide services to anyone travelling; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who are providing food to the hungry; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who provide care and comfort to children and for all children; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For teachers who are providing education for students in many new and different methods; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For the homeless, the poor, the lonely, the vulnerable, migrants, and the isolated elderly who have no protectors; out of the depths, O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For clergy and people who are fasting from the eucharist and are leading worship when we cannot gather together in God’s house; out of the depths O God–We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who have tested positive, all who are waiting for test results, and all who are quarantined; out of the depths—We cry out to you. Protect them.

For all who have already died of the corona virus, now free from pain and suffering. May the God of hope carry them all the way home, and comfort their families and friends; out of the depths—We cry out to you. Protect them.

Loving God, hasten the day when the virus will have run its course; quicken scientists to develop medications and vaccines; call out the best instincts of your people—love, neighborliness, compassion, and a sense of caring for every member of your beloved community on Earth. We pray out of the depths to you, O God of hope, whom we call Jesus, Allah, YHWH, Divine Mystery, Great Spirit. Amen.

Blessings on your journey in this time of Corona virus.