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When unfortunate events happen in our life we feel sad and disappointed. In our brokenness, sickness, failures, pain and death we try to find an answer. We try to find the cause of everything that happens to us. We ask why this and why is that. We want quick answer for everything. Sir.39:17 “You have no right to ask why that? Why is this? Who is the cause? You will get answer for everything at the appointed time by the Lord.” Therefore, we need to wait for God for the appointed time. We need to patiently wait for God’s intervention in our life.
We blamed ourselves, society, government and even God. Some people interpret sickness and death as punishment from God. God does not punish us; instead we ought to say sorry to God for not taking responsibility of ourselves, society and the world. God is not the cause of death and sickness. Instead he wants us to go deeper into ourselves and repent and live. Ezek. 28:23 and 33:11 “Have I any pleasure in the death of the wicked, declares the Lord God, and not rather that he should turn from his way and live?” God desires that we come to him and live.
God never wants us to get lost in sin and perish. God sometimes discipline our faith. Jesus says in the gospel according to Jn. 15:1-2. “My father is the vine grower. He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it more fruit.” He prunes so that we don’t grow out of shape, he cuts so that we don’t become too hard, he bends so that we don’t break and he trims so that we do not grow wild. He wants us to thrive; he wants more fruit from us. The pandemic Covid 19 is no longer the sickness of the western world. It is slowly encroaching into our homes and families. How do we look at it? Perhaps my heavenly father is disciplining me. Heb.12:7 “Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent doesn’t discipline?” Again in the same chapter Heb.12.10 “He disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share his holiness.” So, sometimes God discipline us so we may share His holiness, so that we become like him. St. Paul tells in Rom.8:28 “We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are call according to his purpose” Everything happen for our good. I would ask a question to those who say that corona virus is a punishment from God. Is Jesus’ crucifixion a curse or punishment from God? No, it is not a punishment nor a curse. It is for our salvation. Through him we have eternal life. Look up to Jesus for strength and consolation. Jesus didn’t blame God, didn’t blame the Jews, and didn’t even blame Judas. He didn’t call angels to deliver him from the cross during his most painful hour. The cross felt on Jesus to become our Saviour, when we suffer; we are given chance to be co-saviour with him, “if we have died with him, we will also live with him, if we suffer, we will also reign with him” (2Tim.2:11-12). That is why Peter tell us to rejoice in the suffering (1Pet. 4:13) “But rejoice in so far as you are sharing Christ’s sufferings, so that you may also be glad and shut for joy when His glory is revealed.” Paul boasts of his suffering and pain, (2Cor. 11:21ff) because in his suffering he shares Christ. We don’t invite pain and suffering upon ourselves but when situation like Covid 19 comes which is beyond our control, we need to humbly surrender to God. We need to patiently wait for God’s appointed time to come.
We are moving so fast. The world is rushing, everything is going fast. There is cut throat competition everywhere. The technological advancement has made everything faster. We are not waiting for God. We don’t exam our life. Today we need to wait for God. The world has rejected God many times. It has indulged itself into doing all evil things. Many places Satan is openly exalted and worship. We have entertained all kinds of abominable things before God. We refuse to acknowledge God; we failed to depend on God. We are not stopping for God to intervene in our life. I think we need tremendous courage to wait for God. We need to stop and reflect. Corona virus has stopped the world from its normal speed. Corona virus pandemic has changed our life styles; it has made our life tougher, let it makes our faith stronger and help us come closer to God. Let it change our relationship with God for better.
We need God today more than ever. Let us individually and as community acknowledge God today, accept and turn back to God. Like the disciples in the rough sea let us cry to God not in despair but with hope, Lord we are perishing. Let us wait for his intervention in our life. He will protect us from this monstrous disease. He will calm the rough sea of the world; he will calm the rough wind of coronavirus. We have nothing to fear. He said don’t be afraid. We are no alone; even if we feel so. Let us stop blaming people and God for all the bad things,let us surrender to God. God doesn’t punish but heals. Let us pray for the world that may God intervene.
Rev. Fr. Jacob Chapao
jachapao68@gmail.com