Prayer is a powerful weapon
Last Thursday 14th May Pope Frances and other world religious leaders called for a day of prayer and fasting to save humanity from the pandemic, to enlighten scientists and heal the sick.
This is another major step forward for world faiths in working together and something very positive coming from this terrible situation facing the world. It is so important that people of faith stand together.
Yet what does this day of prayer mean? Are we praying for divine intervention to end the pandemic?
When we pray with faith it is to a God who loves humanity. To God who knows everything, sees our plight and hears our prayer. The God who created the world, the galaxies and who is author of all that is.
I know of someone who did not allow her family to call an ambulance when she caught covid 19 saying that God would heal her. Two days later she couldn’t breathe and died even though her family had said God also heals through the medical services.
God is in the courage and perseverance of doctors and nurses who risk their lives every day to treat those with covid 19. Some have died. God is in the science that will find a vaccine and in the politicians and scientists who are trying to find a way forward.
God works providentially through circumstances and situations. The coincidence which is really a God incidence.
Groups such as Cor et Lumen Christi, a catholic charismatic group in their miracle rallies (see link) would advise those who believe they have been healed to get it checked out with the doctor before coming off medication.
So prayer is putting everything in God’s hands. We pray as though everything depends upon God and act as though everything depends upon us. When we pray we may have a sense of what we can and do ourselves. God has given us free will. We can be courageous, we can use our gifts and talents for others, we can use science. Even those without a religious faith can pray and rely upon a higher power to do what they can’t manage in their own strength. Witness the 12 steps of Alcoholic Anonymous – “come to believe in a power greater than ourselves…” (Step 2)
Yes we ask for God’s help to keep us safe as individuals but we have to play our part. We may ask God to keep us from covid 19 but if we travel on crowded public transport without gloves or mask to a place of work where we can’t self distance we not doing this.
In the meantime as I said in my last post, covid 19 is revealing flawed social care services and a lack of justice. As a community we must ensure it is safe to travel for all and a duty of care is exercised in all work places of work. Those more vulnerable whether due to the economic necessity of going to work or those in care homes must get the help they need to stay safe. We’re all in this together as the saying goes.
We need to get behind the steering wheel and find better ways of living recognising our interdependence and interconnectedness. May almighty God empower us, lead us, inspire us and bring healing to those suffering from this pandemic directly and indirectly and may we, with God’s help change things for the better when this is all over.