“Every cloud has a silver lining” so goes the saying. There is no denying the veracity of the above adage. The word Corona Virus is on the lips of everyone – form the tiny tots, to the elderly persons. Some even have gone to the extent of making a joke out of the word by saying “corona wireless” Whatever be the case, the Pandemic, has captured the attention of everyone on this planet. So much so, that not even the two world wars have had such an impact on the world population as this man-made epidemic is having at the present moment. We can almost say that not a single country of the world has been spared from the evil effects of this epidemic. People in hundreds and thousands have been falling prey to this devastating disease which has been nick-named as COVID – 19.
What is the havoc that this pandemic has caused thus far and continuing at this point of time? Those of us who are not affected yet cannot even imagine the extent of harm that has been done to humanity at the world level in terms of the loss of lives in every country, including India. The number of deaths keeps increasing in an alarming rate since medicines and vaccines are not made available at this moment of crisis.
In our own country the numbers keep rising very sharply, God forbid this to happen, because most of the migrant population which might have already contracted the disease have moved to the rural areas where they have no medical facilities at all. We hope that nothing untoward takes place.
It is said that in the year 1918 the flu pandemic, caused more than 25 million deaths in less than 25 weeks. Could something similar happen now? Hopefully not. We have never been sufficiently prepared to fight a pandemic, though today, substantial efforts are underway to develop vaccines and antiviral pharmaceutical products. It is unlikely that enough of these measures will be available at the beginning of such a crisis and their effectiveness is far from assured. Isolation of persons already ill, and quarantine of the suspected individuals from the “well” through social distancing, simple sanitary measures such as washing of hands frequently and wearing facemasks and providing the public with information about the disease and its risks might reduce the fast spreading of the disease to an extent. But right now, the treatment of persons who are already ill, is important on a war footing.
After having seen the first part of the scenario, I would like to come to the second part. I wish to begin with a few verses from an unknown author of the present day. He writes in Hindi but I have given a free translation here: “O Eternal Spirit, without your knowledge where not even a leaf would move, you have made your enforcement even stronger by binding everyone. You have brought everyone to a sense of anxiety. The vehicular traffic like buses, trains, ships, planes… all have come to a grinding halt. In one breath you have made everything equal. Birds are chirping and breathing air of joy; so too the wild animals roam about in freedom. You have made the sky, pollution free. People who have had not a single minute for themselves, are now blessed with ample time and space to pause and reflect. ‘Man’ who considered himself as master of everything, is locked up in his own house today! You have brought all the atheists on their knees only to realize that ‘they’ are not the masters but servants of the only MASTER, Our Heavenly Father, who unites everyone!”
Next, I wish to present an inspiring anecdote from a person who appears to be an Irishman who was cured from the deadly Corona Virus. He gives us his testimony: “I would like to start with a scripture quotation, he said, ‘I will never leave you or forsake you’. So we can say with confidence, the Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can anyone do to me?’ (Heb. 13: 5-6.) He continues saying, “I remember in one of the nights in the hospital I was on a ventilator and the doctors and nurses gave me all the attention possible, though I was doubting whether I would get through. I was under great pressure not knowing what would happen next. I asked the Lord to help me. The next day the Lord sent a Cleaner. He was like a rare sunshine for me. He began to talk and chat. He told me that he was a missionary in Nigeria for 14 years taking care of the poor. God had saved many people through his ministry. He spoke to people about the love of God manifested through His only Son Jesus. I listened to him with great attention. He was about to leave my room and just before leaving he said, “Can I pray over you”? Absolutely, I said. He prayed over me and left the room. I felt so much better after that. But that night, I remember, I had a great desire to have a particular food item which I liked very much, but who will bring it to me? Believe it or not, the next day the same Cleaner comes with a bag containing three oranges, one coke and my favorite dish! This is how the Lord answered my prayers. Jesus knows our hearts’ desire. He sent the Cleaner to help me. I thank God, for He can use anybody to reach out to his people!”
There are so many good things happening around us if we only have the eyes of Faith to perceive. In our church circles, on 25th March Pope Francis was instrumental in getting thousands of faithful all over the world to pray the ‘Our Father’ at mid-day (Rome local time) on the 25th March, feast of the Annunciation. Again, on 26th March at the invitation of Pope Francis, lakhs of people were united in prayer for more than an hour during the Urbi et Orbi blessing with the Blessed Sacrament. Generally this blessing is given only twice a year – on Christmas day and on Easter. But Pope Francis decided to give this special blessing this time when the epidemic was taking its toll specially in Italy. Generally St. Peter’s square is filled to capacity on this occasion, but on 26th March this year there was hardly a soul at St. Peter’s. But in reality, millions of people all over the world followed the most touching scene – Pope Francis blessing the people gathered in their own homes or respective churches world over. Soon after this blessing it was reported that many persons thus far infected by the deadly virus especially in Italy, have been recovering fast. There are numerous testimonies to these cures. On the other hand many people seem to have said “We have no problems!” Having no problems is the biggest problem in reality; for it is precisely they who tend to forget God. COVID -19 is just another way of the Lord telling us to wake up from our slumber of complacency. It is time we woke up from our inactivity in caring for the less privileged ones.
Just a few days back I happened to watch a video clipping in which fruit sellers in Delhi were seen offering bananas and other eatables to the migrant workers returning to their home town. Our own Institutions have been instrumental in distributing food packets and facemasks to the poor and the needy in different areas of our province. “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink…” (Mt. 25: 35). We also have seen not a few persons come forward and donate generously to the Prime Minister’s fund for tackling the spread of COVID – 19. All this was possible because of the afflictions the Lord was pleased to send us so that we all can remain other person centered and not self centered.
Finally, it is worth noticing the changes in nature itself. Because of the lockdown all over the country, the vehicular traffic has been reduced to the minimum. And therefore, birds and wild animals such as elephants, herds of deer, peacocks, etc. are freely roaming about on the streets. The air in Delhi and I presume in other Metros as well, is much cleaner now. God in His providence is drawing the silver line amidst a clouded sky. Indeed how beautiful and marvelous!
Fr. Charles Lobo SDB