“In the midst of crises, a solidarity guided by faith enables us to translate the love of God in our globalized culture, not by building towers or walls — and how many walls are being built today! — that divide, but then collapse, but by interweaving communities and sustaining processes of growth that are truly human and solid. And to do this, solidarity helps. I would like to ask a question: do I think of the needs of others? Everyone, answer in your heart.”

(Pope Francis: General Audience September 2, 2020)

  While our thoughts might waft towards imagining the “post-Covid” world, our world, in fact, is plunging into another critical surge of coronavirus infections. Sadly, the reason is clear: too many of us do not allow the good of others to get in the way of what we want for ourselves. Whether it’s attending parties or believing voices inciting disregard for public health authorities, we risk not only our own well-being, but also the health of our society and the well-being of future generations. 

  It might be difficult to discern what to believe in today’s climate of social media distortions and false information. However, we, in our Faith Tradition are particularly blessed with the current prophetic leadership of our Patriarch Sviatoslav, and Pope Francis in Rome. While any leader may invoke God and religion to promote his own agenda, both Sviatoslav and Francis fearlessly point to Christ’s example of love, mercy, and openness in all situations, even though this does not promise riches and popularity.

  Remember when we spoke of the African concept of “Ubuntu” where there could be no “me” without “we”? The pandemic illuminates this reality. We, as humans, have only to recognise and acknowledge its meaning, its repercussions. In short, there would be no pandemic as such, if humanity did not succumb to greed. Overconsumption, exploitation, and arrogance underlie the inequities, suffering, and degradation of the environment and humanity.

“When the obsession to possess and dominate excludes millions of persons from having primary goods; when economic and technological inequality are such that the social fabric is torn; and when dependence on unlimited material progress threatens our common home, then we cannot stand by and watch. No, this is distressing. We cannot stand by and watch! With our gaze fixed on Jesus (cf. Heb 12:2) and with the certainty that His love is operative through the community of His disciples, we must act all together, in the hope of generating something different and better. Christian hope, rooted in God, is our anchor. It moves the will to share, strengthening our mission as disciples of Christ, who shared everything with us.”

(Pope Francis: General Audience, August 26, 2020)

So, while we refocus on mitigating the spread of covid-19, it is especially important to begin planning the post-covid reality. Let’s do all we can to “transfigure” this time of public emergency into a consciousness of caring, an acknowledgment of belonging to each other regardless of race, religion, gender, ability, or sexuality. And we, sisters and brothers all, are part of God’s universe. Just as I am inextricably linked to the rest of humanity, so too am I linked to the natural environment. (Without air and water, there can be no I.) 

“In the midst of crises and tempests, the Lord calls to us and invites us to reawaken and activate this solidarity capable of giving solidity, support and meaning to these hours in which everything seems to be wrecked. May the creativity of the Holy Spirit encourage us to generate new forms of familiar hospitality, fruitful fraternity and universal solidarity.”

(Pope Francis: General Audience September 2, 2020)