By Fr. Dr. Charles Ndhlovu
This paper attempts to look at Covid-19 as a problem that could be tackled with concerted effort. But then God still communicates to us in this pandemic – hence we need to sustain ourselves in faith.
We certainly have a big problem – the problem of Covid-19. It is not only a medical problem but it is a problem that concerns faith – and it is usually referred to as the faith and illness problem. It is the relationship of faith and illness – can we still believe in God when sick?
Or how does disease and sickness affect our faith? How can the sick still believe in God? How can the sick still be helped to believe in God? How can the sick be helped to believe that even in sickness – God is present?
It is also an issue associated very much with the connection between illness, medication and faith. It is an objective subject as we see in some passages of scripture where Jesus would do things. He would use something to perform some healing issue.
He spat on the ground, took the matter and then used it to perform some healing ministry. In some passages Jesus would exclaim – if you have faith, God can perform miracles in your life – for with him the list of possibilities is simply inexhaustible.
So faced with Covid – we are challenged. We are challenged in the relationship between illness, medication and faith. The illness is real and the sight of thousands of people infected and affected makes it a truly national and international disaster and tragedy. The sight of so many people sick and bedridden is a tragedy and a saddening sight.
The television obviously and especially hospitals and isolation centres are full of sick people. These are not just people – they are our friends that we know – those we talk to and interact with. They are sick and infected.
The corona virus has paused another difficult viral problem. We are already struggling with so many viral infections like cancer and HIV and Aids – now it is corona virus.
The multiplication and changes through which viruses undergo is certainly a challenge for humanity to deal with. So the reality of Covid-19 cannot be contested at any level now. We are all into it and we are all afraid of it and we are affected and we see so many sick people.
The difficulty of it is exasperated by the reality of life. Normal life cannot continue as usual. We have to take precautions and take some practical steps towards combating and preventing infection as well as measures towards some cure. That is why normal life has somehow come down to its knees.
We have to wear masks and not only that – the fear associated with Covid-19 is as serious. We have to watch so many things and take precautions
towards the contact that we make and encounter.
We cannot pretend that transportation from one point to the other will be as usual.
In a world where the vast majority of people depend on public and common transport – it pauses a big difficulty of spacing in the public transport means but it is not just that as that would be highly simplistic – there is the aspect of the transporter who travels to make profit – how does he or she sustain transportation while making profit at the same time taking precautions so that
the passengers are protected and safe? Some issues are not straightforward or just cut-out – they require consultation and dialoguing.
The world the other day watched with shock – how some people on the peripherals have become victimized with not only food but no masks. Africa is a great example where so many people do not still wear masks – not only wearing masks but some do not have masks. The availability of masks is hugely deficient.
We see so many people still walking or trekking from one point to the other without masks and yet we are told that we must wear masks. This neglect somehow has led to the escalation of Covid-19 in some instances. If one walks in the streets – it is clear somehow that everyone fears Covid-19 and yet not everyone is wearing a mask.
That is why it is encouraging to notice that in some quarters the police have gone out enforcing and making sure that preventive measures are com
the rich and the poor can all be protected from Covid-19 and that those in the mansions and those in the rural local will all be protected in the same way because the challenge they face is the same.
One only needs think about those who have no housing – those who have no jobs – those who walk about in the streets – the street children – the prostitutes – the not so lucky people – and those who in the words of Jesus – have nowhere to lay their heads! What does Covid-19 prevention mean for them?
As they daily sleep along the roads – what do they think about society in general – about their personality and dignity as human beings? What about the street kids – who cannot even access a mask and yet they see the wealthy well covered – what do they think about society in general? Probably – as we all stay in wonder, sadness and even as we cry for those who have
died – we could be comforted by our faith.
Jesus is there amongst those that are dying. Jesus visited the sick and those that were dying. Jesus was there at the funerals. Jesus had experience of crying. At the foot of the cross – as Mary cried – Jesus too wept on the cross – my God, my God – why have you forgotten me?
It is the cry of those who have lost their loved ones to Covid. They loved them but due to Covid – they are dead – transitioned to another life – a better and fuller life. May those who have died rest in eternal peace by the grace of God.
But then as we continue to live and fight we are encouraged to remember that God is with us. He is Immanuel. He is incarnate and that means – he comes and lives amongst us.
As we live and suffer and hope. He too lives, suffers and hopes with us. He is here. He is with us. He is right there in the isolation ward. He sees you. He feels the pain that you feel – that pain of isolation from the outside world is the pain that Jesus feels with you and with all of us.
As we struggle with the difficulty of finances – He is there struggling with us. As we plan – He is there planning with us and as we struggle to prevent infection – He is struggling with us and even when we get the Virus – He is right there and when we have finally failed to fight it – He is there with us welcoming us on the other end – in heaven – sweet heavens!
So ultimately when we have done our part and everything does not seem to fall in place – we can still live in faith – He is a God who communicates not only in goodness but even in fate and tragedy – in this case – God continues to communicate with us amidst Covid-19.
We should have faith – that everything is possible in God and that God can do what we have failed to do (Matthew 9:28).
God even intervenes in sickness through the mediation and work of health workers. It is good to cooperate with those who work in the health sector – so that we can understand and follow what they are saying.
We also ought to work with those who influence policy, government authorities, international bodies, civil society groups, faith based institutions and so many people of good will who through them – God guides and leads his people so that together we may combat Covid-19 as a united front.
About the author: Fr. Dr. Charles Ndhlovu graduated with a Doctorate in Social Communication specializing in Communication Theology at the Pontifical University of Salesianum in Rome – Italy. You may find his publications on the website: charlesndhlovu.wordpress.com; also found on Youtube (Fr. Charles Ndhlovu – Mkhalirachiuta). He is the owner, proprietor and founder of Emmaus. He is on linkedin and on academia.
