IN THE face of all the problems, difficulties and uncertainties posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, Jesus, in this Sunday’s gospel offers us hope saying, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die” (John 11:25-26)
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The problems surrounding us are real. Sickness is spreading fast, affecting the rich and the poor, the old and the young, the powerful and the powerless. Everyone seems to be treading the fine line between health and illness, life and death, survival and demise.
This pitiful situation reminds us of our mortality. We are not invincible creatures; someday, somehow, like Lazarus in the gospel, we will have our appointment with death. But like him also, we can count on Jesus for our resurrection. Our bodies may die but our souls will live forever to eternal happiness in heaven or to eternal suffering in hell.
Jesus is asking us to choose between these two destinations, and our choice is based on whether or not we believe in him. If we believe in him as the Father’s only begotten Son who was sent to this world to die for our sins, then we shall live and reign with him forever. Otherwise, if we reject him, we shall bring to ourselves eternal condemnation to the fires of hell. To truly believe in him is to recognize that we are sinners in need of God’s mercy, to repent for our sins, and to make a decision to obey him, by his grace. Jesus is asking us to simply put our faith in him to nurture a living faith that shows itself in doing good.
Like all other epidemics and pandemics in world history, Covid-19 will also pass. As it rages, however, we, as wise people, must do our best to avoid the infection or prevent its spread. We must abide by the rules and protocols set by our government and health authorities on personal hygiene, social/physical distancing, quarantine, and/or isolation. But as believers, to all these, we add the most powerful weapon that can spare us from the plague -- prayer and a loving relationship with the Lord.
Let us pray for deliverance, protection, healing, and provision. Let us pray for conversion and change of heart. And let us pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven.
To know his will, we can always search the Scriptures. The current situation, whether a quarantine or a lockdown, gives us more time to do this -- to read the Bible. Only with God’s word can we find true rest, for “Indeed the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).
The healing of the world that we are all looking forward to, is found in the Word of God. The psalmist sings, “He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from destruction” (Psalm 107:20). And of this word, John writes, “And the Word became flesh and lived among us” (John 1:14).
Jesus is the Living Word, the “Word who became flesh.” He alone is the God of salvation, healing and life. He alone can bring an end to the COVID-19 pandemic and he alone can once again make this world a beautiful place to live in.