In this modern world we are too busy. If a beggar asks for any alms we place some money and escape from the situation as early as possible. We don’t think why he or she struggles, what makes him or her to beg. We don’t find whether there are any other ways to help the person in need than dropping some money or giving some things to satiate their hunger or thirst. Moreover due to the Covid-19 pandemic panics and worries have affected indiscriminately both the rich and poor in same manner. All are quarantined in the four walls of their residents.
A while past, I was put to task by friends of mine who pestered me with a traditional philosophical query of the Existence of God. One seemed to be affluent in strong arguments against God’s existence whereas another on the contrary, argued in defense of God’s existence as he said; ‘My God is a loving God, a caring God, and non-punishing God. Actually the second person is not educated or learned, but an enlightened ordinary faithful Christian. I was taken up while listening to it. So a question appeared in my mind: how are we to talk about God at this time of global suffering. This focus is very fruitful one to express the faith in the existence of God.
The study of Theology talks about God, it says God is a Mystery and thus beyond our comprehension. St. Thomas Aquinas a great Theologian would state in his Summa Theologiae that “we cannot know what God is, but only what is not.” It is understood that the suffering is a massive reality and inevitable, but crucial to be more prudent while responding to the disquieting situations. In the Bible, we find Job who never wavered in his faith. He was with all the material facilities, comforts, and properties and had a good family leading a happy life. But due to the test, one after the other: his dear ones distanced from him and all his material possessions were taken away from him. He however at the moment of unjust suffering kept his head on the side of God, witnessed God alone saying, God has given, He has taken up ( Jb.1.21).
The basic entry points for our situational reflection should be; how are we talking about God who is revealed as love? How are we proclaiming God of Life to men and women who die daily and everyday due to this COVID-19 globally? How do we approach and respect the people who are affected with this pandemic? These are some of the existential questions appearing in my heart thinking of God in the time of suffering.
The Church is our mother who teaches the Christian faith. Theologically speaking it is the sacrament of Christ. Saint Augustine puts it in a very reflective way which suites our adherence to the Church as spiritual home and heritage, he contends; “He who does not have the church as his mother does not have God as his Father.” Our Catholic Church asserts our identity as Christian. We Christians are called to live in love and fraternity. In a situation like today we need to manifest the compassionate and merciful love of God. Pope Francis shows his compassionate heart to the world, with various gestures of love including praying to Mother Mary and Eucharistic Lord to bring an end to this suffering. He is asking the Christians to pray to God for the expiration of COVID-19 and solicits solidarity with the suffering people.
As Jesus moved towards the people with compassion, thereby, healing them, strengthening them in the time of fear, he similarly hears the grieving of the many now. There are many compassionate people at the service, sacrificing their days and nights for the good of the others. We need to express our compassionate hearts wherever we are, because when we show compassion to others we show the compassionate love of God and tell the world that God continues to love hence, giving true witness to His existence in world which many have failed to comprehend.
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