Don’t be quick to criticise during pandemic

THE mental anguish persons are experiencing as a result of COVID-19 is quite real and it should not be dismissed as a sign of weakness.

Words of caution not to judge others during the pandemic came from Reverend Yolanda Clarke during a sermon at the St. George Anglican Church yesterday on the fourth Sunday of Easter – Good Shepherd Sunday.

During the sermon, Reverend Clarke stated that neither should persons view the spiritual concerns of Christians “as simply the utterances of stiff-necked fanatics, or cries of diminishing faith”. “We should not stand in judgement of others, but rather try to understand their point-of-view.”

“Can we not empathise of those who feel bereft of fellowship and community? Can we not look into the examples of older persons who their only means of social contact is to stand in the post office lines, to meet and greet their friends who they have not seen in long? And so we ask not to do this, for them we ask to be cut off from community.”

“For persons today for whom church is an option, it may be difficult to understand the trauma and isolation, but for those of us for whom our communities of faith are an integral part of our identity, the ongoing COVID pandemic and the associated quarantines are making us painfully aware of it,” Reverend Clarke said.

“For those of us who remain hunkered down, the image of protection is an appealing one, the idea of Jesus standing in the breach granting us security from those forces which would destroy or damage us is quite appealing and appeals a sense of hope beyond all measure. Yet we must be careful to avoid insularity.”

Reverend Clarke commended that there is some good shining through in the wider society during this difficult time. “All strata of society are donating money, medical equipment, helping to feed those who otherwise go hungry or volunteering their time or service even to the extent of putting themselves in danger.
“All of this is a tangible and beautiful demonstration of love, unity and mutuality. Many persons are rejecting insularity, religious divide or sectarianism, instead showing we are truly a community. What an inspiring and heart-warming moment.”

She lamented that there is still some darkness creeping in, pointing to the fact that there are some nations prompting decision makers to choose economics over physical or mental health.

“Our own nation has had instances where tempers flared and frustrations mounted as persons sought to procure groceries, cash pensions cheques or simply pay their bills.

Many armchair pundits on both sides sought to weigh in on social media, either decrying the actions of these persons or to criticise the national policies which led to such occurrences, but my friends in Christ, before we rush to condemnation, we should try to understand what is really happening and to see how God is speaking to us today.

“In this time of the COVID-19 pandemic, death seems to be on the march claiming both physical lives and either threatening our economic, social, mental and spiritual well-being.”

Reverend Clarke said however that while focus is on death, it is simply a larger question of our future.

“What we dread is not merely death, but rather the fact that we individually and collectively, what is going to happen...many of us today feel as though we are living in a strangely suspended or disembodied existence. Our days drift into one another and those activities or connections that often define us are harder to hold onto.

“Perhaps some of the reactions these days, the calls to reopen businesses, the call to end the quarantine are really and truly calls to return to the familiar, to the comfortable and the predictable. Where we can stand knowing what will happen next.

“Some Christians may even feel tempted to join in such calls. The reaction against the mental and spiritual anxiety they may be facing. After all, there is safety in the confines of the church isn’t there? If only we could get back to our normal routines, all will be well or at least, it will be manageable – right?”

“To continue with the shepherd sheep metaphor, there are times when we have to go out to pasture, we have to move beyond the comfortable, to seek some provision. It is not always that we can stay hunkered down, but we must venture out. Yet even as we venture outside the norm, outside of the safe and familiar, our Lord and shepherd is there with us. Not to provide only materially, but in every facet,” she said. (JH)