Hope During the COVID Pandemic

Prudence and Fear during Covid

Saint Paul writes to Timothy that God has not given us a spirit of fear but of love and of power and of a strong mind. At times the difference between fear and prudence is a very fine line but it remains an important difference, perhaps now more than ever.

Today, fear, the worry that comes from threats to our safety, and the safety of our loved ones is accompanied by anxiety and agitation. Prudence contains caution but it enables us to make decisions based on the reason and intellect that God has gifted us with as disciples of Jesus Christ. We are called to exercise the virtue of prudence and not give in to the fear that threatens to overwhelm us. The exercise of the virtue of prudence, leads to an increase in the virtues of hope and courage.

HOPE

Hope is the supernatural ability that God will keep his promise hope is understanding that, even though we cannot see God, he is here. He is moving, and He is caring for us. Hope is not dreaming. It is not wishful thinking. It does not grow. When we refuse to act prudently, hope is our realization that God will not let us go. Even though it seems that our world is crumbling, it is hope that allows us to proclaim: God will not fail us. Even if we grow sick, even if we lose loved ones, even if our financial security crumble, God will not fail to sustain us. Fear is never from God, but only God can give us hope!

During these challenging times, I ask you to speak hope to each other. Parents, give hope to your children. Children, remind your parents to hope. Give hope to your neighbors, give hope to your friends, and perhaps, most importantly give hope to yourself. God has not given us a spirit of fear. God gives us faith, hope, and love. God gives us strength. He gives us courage. Indeed, he gives us all that we need. Exercising the virtue of prudence does include some concrete steps.

Prudence is washing our hands with soap and water, for at least 20 seconds, several times a day. Fear is hoarding toilet-paper.

Prudence is eliminating unnecessary social contacts, particularly in large groups. Fear is refusing to offer a kind smile to others.

Prudence is knowing, that if you are a high risk for this dangerous contagion due to age or underlying health conditions, you stay home. Fear is assuming you will have the worst possible outcomes, in spite of scientific and statistical evidence to the contrary.

Prudence is trusting that God’s love never fails. Fear is that believing that serious illness or even death means that God no longer cares for you.

These measures are prudent, they are our best attempts to be good neighbors, good citizens, good brothers and sisters to one another. As disciples, a key component of our life in Christ is to be a loving presence to our neighbors, this includes doing the best we can to not spread infectious disease.

Let us Pray

I urgently ask that you join me in this prayer every day until God delivers us from this epidemic. It is an old prayer its roots go back to the time when plague threatened the cities of Europe. Pray it at home, and even though we are separated in distance we will be joined together in God’s holy spirit.

Be moved to pity, O Lord, at our earnest prayer, and heal our illnesses of body and soul; so that experiencing thy mercy we may ever rejoice in the blessing.

We beseech you, O Lord, grant us a hearing as we devoutly raise our petitions to you, and graciously turn away the epidemic which afflicts us; so that all mortal hearts may recognize that you are Lord of Heaven and Earth, and hold us all in your loving hands.