The Pandemic has Turned on the Lights
How Will We Respond to What We Now See?
by Fr. Michael Costik
 

The Challenge for Our Time
            If I return to a cottage in the spring in a late evening and turn on the lights, I can see the dust and the work ahead of me for tomorrow.  If I but leave the lights off, I can live believing there is no task for tomorrow.  But, alas, when the sun rises, I can see what needs to be done and I can also see my error, and my pretend world comes crashing down.  All analogies are imperfect, but this one is quite good.  We are people who have continuously turned off the lights so that we do not have to look upon the dust and avoid the work.  We have lived blissfully ignorant, though almost aware in the back of our minds, of the growing buildup of dust in our world.  But, if we just don’t look, after all, we won’t see it and the illusion is maintained.
            This glib description of the modern person is surely unfair, even though, there is much truth in it.  On the contrary, many of us live as people of education and learning who unfortunately, however, have become people of one book – never seeing the world in a broad enough way to even recognize the virtue of seeing something through another’s eyes or from a different perspective.  We certainly have no willingness, having come to some little comfortable knowledge, of learning something new and different.  We are rather a people of very narrow ambitions.  We teach ourselves only the little of what we already believe and allow no one to shatter our illusion of total knowledge and mastery.  There is no great pianist who can only play one piece well; but our illusion is one that does exactly that and we believe the lie.  The first piece the musician learns is the beginning, not the end.  We have learned one piece and thought of ourselves as virtuosi.
            Again, I am being very glib and overly general.  Surely, some of you reading this are saying “that is not me!”  And you may be right.  However, we have all become participants in this in some way or another.  We accept in no small way the propositions presented by advertising and media.  We all are tricked or forced to deal with the world in these above terms.  And we must, at least to some degree, do so. 
            We see from advertising that to be healthy, we must buy this mattress, or drink this kind of water, or eat more honey, or take this medication, on and on…  And we forget that this is only partially true.  In reality we know that each of us daily, in some way, is declining in health.  But, we hear these pitches and get anxious and buy.  What we have forgotten is that our bodies are not meant for health, but rather, they are meant for life.  Biologists will tell us that they are meant for reproduction, which is the continuing of life in the human race.  But, more broadly, we are meant to live.  Health is a part of life and an important part, but not the only part – and if my desire for health takes away my ability to thrive, then it is neither healthy nor is it life-giving. 
            Our media is under the same influence, not because they are bad people or manipulative by nature, but because they are products of a world that values something narrower than truth.  Truth becomes relative – “keep them watching, reading, clicking on our website.”  So, rather than living in service to Truth, we are servants, all of us, to what sells the best. 
            This does not mean that we shouldn’t have strong feelings about things, but it does mean that we should appreciate that someone else’s strength of feeling may be the opposite of our own and that they are allowed to be passionate in opposing convictions.  It is in conversation that we come to greater knowledge and understanding.  By seeking our common ground and understanding the different.  But, all too often, we are like people who are blind who don’t deny that they will ever see, they rather deny that there is any such thing as sight at all.  This person will never see because they don’t believe in sight; we will never understand as long as we look at the other and see conversation with them as no avenue toward growth or of no benefit at all.  People in this worldview become useless, worthless, unless they see as I see; read what I read, think as I think, do as I do, or live as I live.  What a horrible diminishment of the other!  What a great failure to love.
            This is a part of our problem and it has nothing to do with Covid-19 (or giant killer hornets from Asia – the new thing we’re supposed to read about, be afraid of, and tune in to 24/7).  But, in this, the lights have been turned on, and we have realized that dusting and repair work is necessary.  We are forced to look at the room and some of us now see things that we cannot avoid, even as others see the same and look for a means of avoidance.

Understanding that Alone We Don’t Understand
            So, what exactly are the responses we ought to come to in this challenge?  How should we consider things?
            Firstly, there is little hope for us if we don’t understand that Covid-19 is not the real problem.  The real problem is with human experience, namely with the rose-colored glasses we are wearing, if you will.  As human beings we ought to realize that things are just not as they seem and that there is no way of avoiding this.  We just get it wrong somehow.  If you follow me so far, some are still saying, “How do I take these rose-colored glasses off?”  Again, we don’t – this is futile, but knowing we have them on is enough.
     This knowledge gives us the ability to see that together we come to greater clarity than we do apart.  As a Catholic priest, and more importantly as a Christian man, this is done by me with God’s Grace, but, the non-Christian ought to be aware too, that even without a concept of God – or Holy Spirit, advocating for us, we, on a purely human level, benefit when we work together.  It is not possible, that my will, dominating over others is always right. In fact, for the Christian, this is forbidden by Christ in the Gospel.  Listening and conversing with those whom we trust (and sometimes with those whom we even do not trust) and to experts is essential to making decisions I can live with in the life we share together (For some others prayer would be the final component of this process).

            So, as it regards Covid-19 directly, what can we do?
            Many of us are looking forward to the day when a vaccine is made available.  I’m there with you.  I’m also hopeful that it will be sooner than we project.  However, what if it isn’t accomplished or takes years? – so long, in fact, that we’ll have to learn to live with it before it’s even ready?  What if?  I would normally respond to this as overly negative; if I read an article in the press like this, I would be critical.  But, we remember that faiths of all kinds developed in times well before we could rely on technological protections such as antiviral treatments and vaccines.  Humans have survived pandemics before without our technology. 
            The question rather is whether we ought to pin our hopes on this so that we can “go back to normal”.  Is that really what you want?  If normal is the leaving the lights off so that we can avoid the work that needs to be done in our lives, is that what we want?  If normal is a media that only knows one word during this (“Grim” comes to mind) is that what we want?  Who are we?  Are we a people who looks at suffering and weeps and cares, or a people who looks at suffering and closes the blinds – religious or not?
            For Christians, do we want to return to a life within our churches that accepts division and hatred between liberals and conservatives, traditional and progressive, those who voted for N_____ who are the “true” Christians and the rest?  A Church that keeps people away instead of inviting them in or even offering a reason at all that what we celebrate together might do them good in their lives?  Or, do we want to return to a Church that people consider and think, “What amazing people!  How do they stand in the face of adversity with such joy and tranquility?  What is the source of their strength?”  What Church do we want to be a part of?
            Truly, there are some reading this who read this and find some just criticism or inspiration, and others that think that this isn’t possible.  They’re welcome in the Church too, but as a people, will the Coronavirus result in death or life, whether our bodies live or die?  Will our “normal” achieved be a normal that sees Christ as our Life and the love, joy, care and service he commands us to as our defining characteristic?  What does it matter if I wait for a vaccine, only to return to being the dead man I was before?  Will this wound save me for divine service on Earth to others, vaccine or not?

The Horror of Division
            What should be intimately apparent to us is that human beings are united in this and that the division we suffer is self-inflicted.  The Christian may look at the non-believer and see the other rather than a brother or sister; forgetting the greatness of spirit which we all share that recognizes the other as Christ, that sees not a label, but sees that the Gospel is working in the others we meet and thanks God for the wonder of those whom we meet as fellow travelers along the way.  What could be created by God that lacks beauty?  What could flow from the fount of love that is hateful?  The Christian fails by not seeing this created beauty and the Gospel both at work and living in the world.
            The unity we celebrate, we forget, is two-fold:  Christians get their unity from Christ at the altar; but our fundamental unity is found in our need for Him.  This unity all people share.  We cannot repair ourselves.  But still, the Christian and the non-Christian meet and see the other as opposition; even though our restless nature cries out in futility the same words, “Help us!”  Today we are united in helplessness at the height of our pretend power.  Can we let the pretense go?
            Perhaps at the root of all pretense is this knowledge of our lack of power; this gives us a need even of an illusion of control.  In the greatness of our need we may do, or say, or believe in anything that gives us something to even lie about our insecurities.  We can live in this way in a way that makes us look quite virtuous.  This person does not want the lights turned on.
            Many people, you can already see it, are doing everything in their own power to resist a change in themselves.  Conspiracy theories, anger toward left or right, anti-x….. movements (insert your own of your choice), on and on.  Some are failing to recognize, or are whole-heartedly resisting, their own conversion.  Some are so used to division that a scent of unity forces them to reassert disunity – like an addict that fears a sober day, the dog again goes back to its own vomit.  This is an old but very strong way of symbolizing this point.  But, unity is possessed by us in our common helplessness, our indigence, and we can do nothing to avoid this truth in this pandemic.  The lights are on, we have to put the room in order.
            Alas, for the Christian the situation is far worse.  Since we celebrate the unity from above, not our own, only.  We then must understand that we not only resist our union with others in our common need, but also with God who gave us His unity.  Our declaration of a political reality creates a concept of Church that is a true anathema – The Church becomes the end rather than the way to become related to God that it is.  The end is Christ who is also our beginning.  To make the Church an end is to deny ourselves the purpose of the Church – that we may become Christ’s adopted brothers and sisters – To become branches of the Vine.  Why offered heaven would we choose Earth only?  Why made an heir to Heaven would I renounce it for earthly wealth alone?
            This, again, isn’t to suggest that we shouldn’t feel strongly and prayerfully advocate for earthly changes that truly help others, but we remember who we are and to whom we belong.  Where does our peace come from?  Today, we lack peace simply because we are looking to other men and women for that peace when they can offer nothing except division even justly, and even favorably.  The best good on earth is much less than the least good in heaven.  We strive for the greatest good and realize that it isn’t from us.  Every, even unintentional, or well-intentioned declaration of an earthly unity within the Church must betray the unity from above.  As we navigate responsibly living out our Christian mission, we will have to make wise and earthly decisions, often difficult ones – What account of our stewardship will we give when we meet him?  Will he recognize us as family members who worked hard to balance responsible citizenship with Christian love, joy and peace?  It is never easy, but always necessary to remember this.  The lights are on, put the room in order with this challenge in mind.  It is never possible for the Christian to stop loving or to put down the cross.  We carry it because it makes us truly his and gives us true peace.

The Dawn of the Newness of Life - Hope
            If I could end this virus tomorrow, I would.  If I could bring back the dead, I would.  However, for each of us this should be our daily thought:  If I can relieve suffering, I will.  But, if we must endure it, Lord, make it benefit us somehow.  How will that take shape? 
            Some of you will read this and agree and want to correct the other – If you must do so, do so with the same Spirit of love that comes to you in power from Christ’s name.  Encounter every situation in your life with reverence for the gifts you have, the gift you are, the gift of the others and Him from whom all these blessings flow. 
            I thank God for you (even those who have wronged me or are most upset with me – In some sense, I agree with you most!)  One always stands insufficient when faced with the Cross.  I wish the people in my life had a better friend, or relative, or priest…  This is true of us all.  Love never allows us to say, “it is enough.”  It always demands more than I have.  It leaves us all aware of our helplessness and our failings.  To love is to give the sun, moon, and stars and still feel that you should have done more.   This is the Spirit within whom we will find true life.  Christ died, so we must endure these deaths too.
            Although, this is a great constant reality in the human spirit, today, we realize that this is the light that breaks the dawn of the pandemic’s night.  Would you like to go and walk in it?  Do we have the courage to live this way? Allow your yes to let yourselves be transformed for the life of the world and those who live in it.   
            May our resistance to love end; and may we so live in the newness of life we have been given on this new and beautiful day. 

Fr. MC
           
Copyright 2020 Rev. Michael Costik