The observance of the year 2020’s Holy Week and Easter Triduum is unusual.
For the first time in at least 50 years, churches are empty; processions, the blessing of palm branches, and Holy Week rites are modified in keeping with the government’s directive on enhanced community quarantine, and its campaign to stop the spread of the dreaded coronavirus.
Nothing, or no one has ever stopped or modified a long-standing religious practice that is so entwined with the people’s culture and tradition, and lives. Only the CCP virus.
Easter Sunday and CoViD-19
Today, we commemorate the joyful event of the Lord’s resurrection. We celebrate the conquest of Jesus over sin and death by his rising from the dead.
We rejoice with gratitude the Father’s gift of redemption, realized in Jesus and by Jesus. After 40 days of fasting, abstinence, repentance, and reconciliation in Lent, we embrace the grand celebration of the Paschal Mystery of the passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
While the Season of Easter is about hope, positivity, and victory, Easter 2020 is taking a different turn, as it witnesses the effects of the CCP virus across continents and nations.
As of April 10th, data show that there are 1,605,372 confirmed cases, and at least 95,753 deaths in at least 160 countries. Young and old, patients and medical front liners, rich and poor, influential and ordinary citizens are infected, are struggling, and have become victims. From Asia to Europe, from Africa to the Americas, the experience of fear and death has become prevalent.
We reflect on Easter, and ask what it means today while the world struggles to survive in these difficult times. How can a child with autism be cared for and be assured of one’s future after being left behind by one’s parents, who both were doctors and who died from coronavirus while serving at the medical frontline? How can parents of a young doctor be made to understand the loss of a son from an airline crash while helping a patient in the fight against coronavirus? These and the countless stories make us wonder how people can find peace at a time when the enemy is not visible, and can be carried by asymptomatic individuals.
The silver lining
The rise in the number of cases of the coronavirus in different parts of the world has made everyone feel helpless. For the first time in recent years, government leaders, artists, health care workers, and everyone are one in invoking God in prayer for peoples to survive the virus, and for the world to find a way to end the evils of CoViD-19.
In the book of Psalms, chapter 4 verse 8, the psalmist reminds everyone how “in peace, I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety”.
In the book of Job, chapter 22 verses 21-22, everyone is reminded to “Agree with God, and be at peace; thereby, good will come to you. Receive instruction from his mouth, and lay up his words in your heart”.
British journalist and TV personality Piers Morgan hailed the “outstanding care” of Filipino nurses in the United Kingdom battling the CoViD 19 pandemic. He highlighted the heroic deeds of the immigrants who are currently saving lives. Out of the 200,000 Filipinos in the UK, about 21,000 work in the medical field. A good number work as members of infectious disease teams in various hospitals.
In the United States, a good number of health care professionals from Atlanta, Georgia responded voluntarily to the call of the state of New York to supplement their healthcare system, and to assist their frontliners in the fight against the coronavirus.
Locally, various groups have voluntarily organized themselves to help in the fight against the virus. Young businessmen and entrepreneurs have bonded to produce PPEs, face masks, face shields, and other necessary materials. For days, they labored to generate funds, connect with suppliers, and tap local workers who can piece materials together to produce the necessary items for use in big and small hospitals around Dumaguete and across the province of Negros Oriental.
When life is difficult, indeed, angels come flying in to assist, to share, and to love.
Since the implementation of ECQ in the Province, some 220 marshals have been manning the 11 checkpoints around Dumaguete to ensure the strict implementation of the Provincial ordinance.
Aware of the difficulties these people have to endure, generous individuals have supplemented meals served by the local government unit. For about a week now, even in the midst of strict security measures, shepherds bring food and drinks to individuals who are working under the heat of summer.
Determination of the human spirit and God’s grace
One American TV host, after committing a blunder in a global event, was predicted to lose one’s career. Several months later, the TV host found himself in the thick of work and engagements. When asked to whom he would attribute his success despite what had happened, he answered humbly saying, “Ultimately in life, it is God, not man, who has the final say in everything”.
The post-CoViD scenario looks like the world is going to embrace a grim reality. The United States very recently passed a stimulus package worth $2 trillion to save businesses and private companies, in anticipation of the virus’ negative effect on the US economy.
Here in the Philippines, our Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases organized by the President to manage CoViD-related concerns has been consulting various groups to prepare for post-CoViD effects here, and identify steps that can hopefully cushion the negative impact of the CCP virus on Philippine life and operations.
Already, thousands are wary about the negative effects of the virus. But isn’t the human spirit’s strength found in the Lord?
As 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 19 puts it, “Nevertheless, God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: ‘The Lord knows those who are his,’ and ‘Everyone who confesses the name of the Lord must turn away from wickedness’.”
Easter, indeed, is alive. While peoples and nations continue to face the dreaded virus, they must not forget that “God works for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). The celebration of Easter comes to bring the message that God is alive, and that God hears the cry of His people.
A joyful Easter celebration to everyone. May the season be filled with silver linings even as we struggle to fight against the CCP virus.
