As the emotional and spiritual battle continues regarding mask mandates and social distancing I find myself intensely struggling with the Churches response to the government and Her own flock. My response is to stand against this ostracizing and dehumanizing standards that have very little to do with the spread of a virus and more to do with a weaponized political arsenal.
The Church has taught me that it is appointed unto to man once to die and after that the judgment in Hebrews 9:27. No one is going to escape the death that is coming because of the wages of sin. Even if you don’t agree with the Bible you can be certain that you WILL die someday, hopefully later than sooner.
Where is the gospel in all of this woefully hijacked viral spread? Jesus taught us to be bold and seek to embrace the leper. Did he not have concern about spreading the leprosy to others? Did he not love his disciples by placing them in danger? These are questions I keep asking myself; does any one else even remember Jesus example?
Jesus taught us that concern for what will make us unclean does not take precedence over the kindness and care owed to a suffering individual. We are to help the injured Samaritan without thinking about the cost to ourselves. Through His example Christ taught that we should be getting down and dirty among the sheep. (Thank you Pope Francis for that jewel at the moment).
Instead, many perfectly healthy people are burying their talent while accusing others for their lack of “prudence.” They hid in fear of death; afraid to live. They have become scared of their own neighbor, afraid to go out anywhere, they’ve turned into tattlers, the scream at others in grocery stores for not conforming. In my own experience many won’t even look into the face of others as they shop now as if locking eyes will cause them to contract a virus. How is this carrying the gospel message of hope into the world?
The martyrs embraced their lack of control of death and moved forward fearlessly in response to the gospel for the sake of others. For the sake of spreading the good news that Jesus can offer us eternal life. Where is the Church??? Why are the Bishops hiding playing this political game? Stop pandering and encouraging fear. Stop putting your trust in places like the CDC instead of God.
Put out the Holy Water. Call the faithful to Mass. Distribute the Eucharist properly and don’t take advantage of times to push your Modernist agenda.
So pardon me while I don’t bury my talent in the ground because I’ve got talents to invest and only one life in which to do so whether that be short or long. Maybe I am casting away prudence as some have suggested or maybe prudence is only another word for cowardice.
How many times will we ignore the words…. “FEAR NOT!”
Oh ye of little faith…