By His Grace Most Rev Prakash Mallavarapu,
Archbishop of Vizag
In a country like India, the Covid-19 pandemic has made it crystal clear that a vast majority will not easily survive this crisis situation, if the government and non-governmental organizations do not come forward to stand by them. For the government it is its duty and obligation to provide for the poor, the marginalized and vulnerable sections who generally live hand-to-mouth. It is in the light of the phenomenon of dependency that we should also see the “social responsibility” towards the poor and the needy.
For others in the society, especially for the rich and those that are financially secure, it is a social responsibility and moral responsibility. It is heartening to notice the overwhelming generosity visible in the assistance and help given to the poor, to the migrants, and the unemployed affected by Covid-19. Beyond the timely assistance in this crisis situation, the economic and social systems in the country should realize that without the contribution of these sections, the wheels of the economy will not move forward.
They are in the unorganized sector of the economy but their contribution is crucial for the economy: they are migrant workers in our cities and towns, casual labour in the small or medium industry, construction workers, agricultural labour, and skilled workers but not employed like the electricians and carpenters, etc. For their livelihood they depend on their employment. And the society depends on them for many of its works or needs. This mutual dependency should be recognized and appreciated. They need to be supported in a more permanent manner! Occasional charity is not the proper way of addressing the situation!
Covid-19 has given an opportunity for the family to stay together: Enforcement of lockdown across the Globe, either total or partial, has been considered as the best measure to arrest the spread of Covid-19, Corona virus, and to protect human life. The results show that this has saved the humanity from the worst possible disaster.
Covid-19 is still a great disaster that took humanity by surprise. The fact that so many thousands of people died due to this virus is very painful and disheartening. Lockdown, it is true, has been a severe control on free movement and socialization.
This forced confinement to the house had one big blessing for the families, giving ample time for rest from the daily routine and giving time to be together as a family. Of course, staying together 24/7 for six weeks is no small challenge, especially for the families who live in small houses or single room dwellings. But still, for most families perhaps it is for the first time that all the members are at home for so many weeks. The hope is that this helped the families to have quality time for one another rather than the time spent in front of the TV or locked down with personal cell phones!
Organizing time and a planned way of doing things needed for the family, and giving space and importance to all the members might have been some of the major challenges. And when the houses are small and financial resources are drying up due to the lack of daily earnings, especially for the poor who depend on daily wages, this time together has been perhaps more difficult to handle. In spite of all these inconveniences, staying at home, as a family to pray, play, and relax is the blessing in the lockdown period!
Covid-19 has provided time and space to think of the “reality of life”: Due to this Covid-19, what the philosophers and thinkers have been telling about some basic questions about life, now each of us is confronted with: what is life, what is its meaning and purpose, what is its destiny, who really is in control of the dynamics of life, what is the best way to understand and live this life, etc. And these questions become personal questions about our life here and now: how am I looking at life? Am I living my life with some definite priorities? Are these priorities coming from the way I think and understand my life?
Life placed as it is between the birth and the event of death that will happen at some point of time. There is one’s own way of thinking though perhaps unarticulated to a large extent. Each one of us wants to live a meaningful, happy and fulfilling life. Threatened by the pandemic created by Covid-19 Corona virus, the air around us is filled with lot of fear, anxiety, insecurity, and unpredictability. All these are real and could affect us, even the most secure and most confident. What we are taught by religion and philosophy and what we have believed as answers to the above questions and concerns should come for serious review.
This time of lockdown and staying at home, I am sure, you are personally confronted with the above and each of us should have reviewed our thoughts and convictions. To continue to go on the journey with confidence and conviction, in situations like the present Covid-19, each of us have to personally clarify to ourselves how we see the reality of life.
For us Christians our faith enables us to think of the points reflected here. It is good to review and become conscious of our understanding in order to live our life with meaning, happiness and fulfillment. We were deprived of common worship, we were kept away from the reception of the sacraments, prevented from making pilgrimages to sacred places, etc.
But, the situation has put more responsibility on us as individuals and families to celebrate faith and strive to live that faith. A new situation altogether and a new experience too! But, did we stop praying? Did we stop reading the Sacred Scriptures? Did we stop following the commandments and teachings of Jesus Christ? Did we stop devotional prayers in honour of Our Blessed Mother and Saints? I suppose, the answer is “No!” perhaps, we began to pray even more fervently than before!
Assurance of God’s Protection
He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High,
Who abides in the shadow of the Almighty,
Will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress;
My God, in whom I trust.
“For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
And from the deadly pestilence;
He will cover you with his pinions,
And under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
Nor the arrow that flies by day,
Nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
Nor the destruction that wastes at noonday. (Psalm 91, 1-6)