Jesus … It’s so important to choose faith, not fear, even in the midst of a crisis as big as the one we’re currently facing. There’s a Bible story that we hear about quite rarely, but it’s a snapshot of something we don’t hear/know much about: Jesus’s childhood. Now, however, in the midst of a global slowdown, we may finally be able to hear Jesus' words to Martha as something intended for us: "you are worried and distracted by many things. Indeed, Jesus comes to us in our storms. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our, How to survive a pandemic, spiritually and charitably, Click here for complete coverage of COVID-19 on RNS. COVID-19 has disrupted the business of the world and forced billions of people worldwide to step outside of their normal routines. 4:19–22). Where faith reigns, fear has no place. The disciples may have lost sight of Jesus, but he never lost sight of them. But the storm will pass, and don’t forget, Jesus is with us in it. How often is the Lord speaking, seeking to lead us, but we don’t see him because we don’t expect him? Even in the midst of chaos, make no mistake, God is at work. And the Lord gives us this promise in the words of the Old Testament prophet Jeremiah. Do Not Surrender to Fear. He does not bow to dangerous situations and uncertain futures. Patrick R. Manning is Assistant Professor of Pastoral Theology, the Chair of the Department of Pastoral Theology at Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology at Seton Hall University, and the author of Converting the Imagination: Teaching to Recover Jesus' Vision for Fullness of Life (forthcoming from Wipf & Stock). Jesus was still on the mountain as evening came. #5: Connect more deeply with the people in your life. God is close and is our refuge in the midst of the storms and catastrophes that we face. Perhaps we are somewhere near the beginning or approaching the middle. Mindful of God's affinity for turning catastrophe into cause for celebration, we who find ourselves in the midst of a new catastrophe might take pause to ask ourselves, "What unforeseen good might God bring out of this mess?" As Pope Francis highlighted in his recent "urbi et orbi" blessing, the Scriptures repeatedly assure us not to be afraid. Many of us have been living like Jesus' friend Martha, who was overwhelmed by all the work to be done. So much of our fear and anxiety arises from reactive thinking. … Yes. #1: Be on the lookout for the unexpected ways God might be working in the crisis. Now a Sabbath of sorts is being imposed upon us, who would not honor it of our own volition. The love shown by Jesus Christ on the cross affirms that God stays with us when we are afflicted. Worries about our health, finances, and the future we had planned dominate our thoughts. Like a storm, COVID-19 has a beginning, middle and end. FINDING JESUS IN THE MIDST OF COVID CRISIS - Fr. Dave Concepcion' s Lenten Recollection That much is for sure. In this season of COVID-19 (coronavirus), Preaching Today wants to offer you a word of encouragement and point you towards resources that will help you prepare life-giving sermons that illuminate God's comfort and presence. Luke 2:41-52 (NABRE) recounts the story of finding the Child Jesus in the temple. These pieces of wisdom are not "tips" in the sense of quick fixes. Sometimes we come close to losing all hope, as Job did when he felt, in the midst of his suffering, that he would never again see good (see Job 7:7). The secret it that we already possess within us all that we need. Our world has grown quieter, and, like inactivity, that quiet can be unsettling for those of us who are accustomed to constant noise. We have been journeying together with her and her husband “G” since she was first diagnosed, and we are so proud and humbled by her testimony ... that she remained resolute in her faith and love towards Jesus, right to the end. All is not well. He was walking on the water toward Jesus. He told his disciples to go ahead of him to the town of Gennesaret in their boat while he dismissed the crowds. But it’s not impossible. The views expressed in this commentary do not necessarily reflect those of Religion News Service. I know this may sound like a trite, Sunday-school answer, but every answer to every fear we ever have will always be this: Jesus is bigger than what scares us. Do not be afraid.”, RELATED: How to survive a pandemic, spiritually and charitably, The Apostle Peter, impulsive man that he was, said, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”. (RNS) — One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is about a storm. Javascript must be enabled for the correct page display. And what if, in the moments when those afflictive thoughts mentioned above in #1 are growing louder and louder, we met those thoughts with silence or perhaps a simple prayer like "Come, Holy Spirit"? In the midst of challenging times, it's important to appreciate small moments of joy when they occur. Jesus makes clear what is that "one necessary thing" earlier in the chapter (Lk 10:27), but it is worth mulling over for ourselves what is most important in life and whether our daily living actually reflects those priorities. There are accounts of coronavirus patients being healed by God through prayers and other divine encounters in several parts of the world. When Peter started sinking, he shouted, “‘Lord, save me!’”. Why not fly in? If the experience of people like Teresa of Avila, Brother Lawrence, and Cardinal Nguyen Van Thuan is any indication, we would discover greater peace, joy, and gratitude in our days, even in the most difficult of circumstances. So rather than lamenting the current disruptions and the affront against our presumed omnipotence, we might welcome the opportunity to rest and to live more humanly as long as this crisis persists… and perhaps even beyond. That promise was one of 12 made by Jesus for those faithful who would devote themselves to His Sacred Heart. In his new book on COVID-19, Lennox points out how the coronavirus exposes our vulnerability, when we expend so much energy pretending that we are immortal. Like a storm, COVID-19 has a beginning, middle and end. But then he looked away. His disciples, on the other hand, were in trouble. They shall find in My Heart an assured refuge during life and … Accreditation & Educational Effectiveness, Immaculate Conception Seminary School of Theology. Life will be changed after this crisis. Whether or not it turns out to be a change for the better is somewhat dependent on our ability to reevaluate our priorities, make decisions, and form habits in line with what matters most. If you are afraid, Jesus is waiting for you to call. In the midst of this COVID-19 pandemic, Pastor and I are grieving the loss of a dear church member to cancer. Their voices echo in our Christian tradition, offering us wisdom that can help us find God amidst the current crisis. Perhaps we are somewhere near the beginning or approaching the middle. With fewer people and duties to make demands upon us, we have the freedom and the time to connect more deeply with the people who mean the most to us. In Psalm 23 David praises God and His nurturing care in the midst of trials. We might ask, "Have I chosen a life in which sending one more email takes priority over tucking my child into bed at night or chosen a bigger paycheck at the expense of my physical and mental wellness?" Again, this may be a gift that we never would have given ourselves. We turn on the news or look out our windows to see empty streets and darkened buildings. The implication seems to be that, if the Creator and Sustainer of the universe can afford to take a day off to appreciate His work, it is rather foolhardy of mere mortals to presume that they cannot afford to do likewise. I think it’s because he wanted to show his disciples that the storm was only a staircase for him to come to them — and that he had power over it. In other words, Jesus knew the world of illness. or "What if in this moment God is inviting me to…?" That many of us experience this slowing down as something uncomfortable should tell us something about how inhumane our lifestyles have become, how far we have strayed from God's vision for our … Paul celebrates that “Christ Jesus who died — more than that, who was raised to life — is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us” (Romans 8:34, NIV). Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, knows our pain and suffering, and identifies with us when we go through them. The pandemic is challenging families, communities, health care … Like a storm, COVID-19 has a beginning, middle and end. COVID-19 has disrupted the business of the world and forced billions of people worldwide to step outside of their normal routines. Our Christian brothers and sisters who live in nations that criminalize the faith are our heroes and inspiration when we consider their tenacity and resilience in … But the storm will pass, and don’t forget, Jesus is with us in it. The Blessed Sacrament Exposed in the St. Therese Chapel (The Commons) during bi-weekly Eucharistic Adoration. Jesus watches us in our storms. #3: Refocus on what is most important in life. He is on Twitter at @GregLaurie. Thus, lifespans were short: only 30 or 40 years. For, in the words of Saint Augustine, "you see the Trinity if you see love." We cannot do it all. Yet, no matter what its kind or degree, suffering should prompt us to look up, reevaluate our lives, and live by faith. Saints like Ignatius of Loyola enjoin us to "find God in all things," yet, in moments of crisis like the present, we may find ourselves wondering, "Where is God in all this?" The crowning example is what the Christian tradition refers to as the felix culpa, the "happy fault." Had they been waiting by faith, they would have recognized him immediately. As the disciples made for their destination, a raging storm came upon the sea. This has been to our detriment. Published: April 9, 2020. It is better to be in a storm with Jesus than anywhere else without him. Immediately, Jesus grabbed hold of Peter and said, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” Then they got back into the boat and the storm was gone. The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. Now many of us find ourselves prevented from engaging in our usual incessant activity and deprived of many of our habitual diversions. We obsess over the terrible things that could happen: What if I or my loved ones get sick? We “start to sink” when we forget God’s promises to us. 4. But rather than jumping into the midst of fear and panic, why don’t we look for opportunities as … The Jewish people traditionally observed this time of rest not merely once a week but also by refraining from agricultural activities and forgiving debts every seven years (the Sabbath year). In general, his work focuses on making sense of human beings and how we can live life more abundantly together. At the same time, we have the opportunity to reach out (by phone, Skype, handwritten letters) to those who are most in need and to be the face of God for those who are enduring the greatest suffering. Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; He lifts His voice, the earth melts. If it is true that absence makes the heart grow fonder, then perhaps this time of separation will engender in us a greater appreciation for the people in our lives. WCC: 'Find hope in the birth of Jesus amid the covid-19 crisis' A Christmas message released by the interim General Secretary of the World Council of Churches urges Christians to find hope in the good news of the birth of Jesus amidst the Covid-19 crisis. Image courtesy of Creative Commons. When human beings turned against their Creator and all should have been lost, God responded with an even more gratuitous act of generosity by uniting Godself to humanity in the Incarnation and thereby drawing humanity into the very life of the Trinity. 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