WRITEON FOR APRIL 15, 2020
sister alies.
Ugh. And on it goes. Really? No. This is the week we are reminded that Jesus not only gave His life for us, as many of His friends are doing in this crisis, but was raised from the dead, a promise for us all…Hope y’all had a happy Easter day.
Some places that visit the sick and vulnerable have given their care workers ONE mask. That’s it…I see no gloves. I suspect the worldwide fashion statement for this spring’s catwalks will be MASKS! Some are quite beautiful, funky, and clever. I have a friend making me some for the care workers that pop in and out of here!
I found this article (in CRUX by John Allen interviewing Dominican priest Fr. Murray,op) about St. Cyprian, Bishop of Carthage (3rd C) and thought it enlightening…thought I’d share a bit:
“…pandemic in the Roman empire…Rome at height of outbreak was 5,000 dying daily…this pestilence was the second of two…Cyprian saw it as an opportunity for strengthening faith and hope. He said it called for enormous courage and trust. ‘What a gandeur of spirit it is to stand up with living faith before the onsets of devastation and death and instead of being paralyzed by fear, to embrace the benefit of the occasion.’ ‘Here he meant that Christian believers would manifest to those around them a willingness to bear the Cross of the moment, at whatever cost, to do everything they could to assist those in greatest need’, said Murray. Why does God allow? Cyprian says: ‘How fitting, how necessary this plague and pestilence which seems horrible and deadly, searching out the justice of each one, and examines the human race, asking whether or not those who are healthy are caring for the sick, whether relatives dutifully love their kinsmen, and whether doctors are refusing to abandon the afflicted in their charge.’”
As well as these suggested spiritual benefits, we also grieve with those who have lost loved ones, to those who are seriously ill, to those that are sick at home. We also rejoice with those who are cured!!
We know that Africa, Asia, and other vulnerable places will take the biggest death hits. We also see that African-Americans are suffering in a very disproportionate way. Perhaps when the pestilence passes we will face these hideous inequities in a bolder and more caring way?
BLESSINGS.
