Rev Fr Benjamin Chang
Kiphire Town
The world has come to a standstill as Man has lost control over corona virus. It is wreaking havoc all over the world. Churches are closed and locked. Paris is no longer romantic, the Chinese wall is no longer a fortress and the busy Rome Basilica is empty. Hugs and kisses have suddenly become weapons, and not visiting parents and friends have becomes an act of love. Suddenly many realize that power, beauty and money are worthless and can't get the oxygen one is fighting for...
Where is God? Is there any way that God can use it for good? What could be “useful” about a pandemic? How can God use something so destructive?
To be clear, the coronavirus is not useful in itself. The coronavirus is bad. But God can use the coronavirus for good because God is good. Contrary to what some are saying, the coronavirus is not the judgment of God for the sins of Italy or the world. Because of God’s great love for us, Jesus bore not only the judgment of God for sin but also our sickness and disease...
Bad things happen. Jesus reminded us of that with his words: “I have told you these things so that in me you may have peace. In the world you have trouble and suffering, but take courage — I have conquered the world” (John 16:33). Jesus knew trouble and suffering were already taking place. Sickness and violence were part of humanity’s history. But Jesus knew it was going to get worse and humanity had a choice to make...
In Exodus Chapter 12, it talks about Moses and the Passover. How the people of Israel prayed in their home “I will pass over you, and no plague will befall you to destroy you, when I strike the land of Egypt.” The whole world is suffering, in one way or other. God has a good plan for our welfare. For Jeremiah 29:7 says, "Seek the prosperity of the city to which I have sent you as exiles. Pray to the LORD on its behalf, for if it prospers, you too will prosper.” Maybe God wants to cleanse our cities and towns and wants our homes also to be a place of Worship...
The world continues its life and it is beautiful. For a moment, it has put us humans in cages. It's sending us a message: We have appreciated only the rich, the powerful, the actors, actresses, singers and other celebrities. Now the world is able to see nurses, doctors, hospital admin staff, ambulance crews, cleaning staff, district administration, food and civil supplies officers and staff, caterers, support workers, journalist, grocery shop workers delivery/lorry drivers. These are the people who are trying to keep this world going...
We humans have come far. From stick-wielding apes to the cultivation of farmland. From utilization of steam-powered engines to stock-trading algorithms. From self-driving cars to life-altering medicine. Many have labeled ourselves as the crown of creation. With the domestication of animals to flights on the moon and genetic modifications. Many saw ourselves as the immortal kings of the earth and soon to be conquerors of the universe...
In reality, we are nothing but a speck of dust in the whole endless universe. God is our Master and we are just His creatures. We are humbled to return to Him once again...
