Coping with COVID 19, Revd Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla, Kottayam, Page 09

What then must the Church do in order to address this new situation to improve the human condition? Politicians often talk about a ‘new normal’; how do we find it? One often comes across super-minded critics demanding that the Church should say or do something about addressing all the post-COVID-19 problems confronting the global community. These critics always assume that responsibilities endowed on the Church entirely depend on the ordained ministry, and that it should be perfectly possible for a Pope, Patriarch or a Metropolitan to make pronouncements on these varied issues on behalf of the Church; others expect the Church to be able to solve all the problems of society. While I would not wish to get involved in clergy bashing, I would like to point out that the vast majority of the members of the Church, over 99%, are laity. Therefore, it is important forlaityto move out oftheirindifference and inertiato take up their responsibilities individually and collectively in addressing problemsconfronting ourworld.

The failure of the Church to address various problems confronting the world has been laid willy-nilly at the feet of the leadership of the Church. The scapegoating of the leadership has become an escapist game and virtue signalling. We often forget that it is up to the ordinary members of the faith community with the intimate knowledge and involvement of the affairs ofthe world in theirworkplaces, homes, social living and in politics. Instead, we continue to blame the leaders and even say they have enslaved the laity and so forth, etc., etc.; ifthis is true, then it is time for lay people of the Church to seek liberation for the good of the whole world. We should highlight this post-pandemic landscape as a wakeup call to work for the values of God’s kingdom. Laity should regain their role as members of the ‘Royal Priesthood’ because we are given the authority through St. Peter’s epistle: "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1Peter 2:9). There is no excuse whatsoever in not working together with our priests to achieve what we pray for in the prayer that Jesus taught us: “Thy will be done or earth as it is in heaven.” The time is now ripe for a much-needed reformation in our churches and the attitudes of laity towards achieving it under the grace of God. Now is the time that they should wake up from their dormant state.

Wearegrateful to Miss Sarah Ball ofthe‘Churches Togetherin England (CTE)’ for sharing the varied reflections on COVID-19 pandemic by the members of the CTE. Revd Dr. K. V. Mathew has given us an eco-centric perspective on this pandemic. He gives very thoughtful advice: “Those of us who will survive this pandemic need to learn from the mistakes of our past and build a new humanity in the spirit of humaneness, mutual love, cooperation and respect for our cosmos.”

Revd Dr. Abraham Kuruvilla in his article highlights that the appropriateChristian responseisto lament, groan with creation, and pray in the power of the Holy Spirit and to serve the poor and to defend their interests. He says, “Grief offered is grief transformed.” Grieving is indeed a positive response for maintaining emotional health and wellbeing. Revd Dr. Ipe Joseph examines the question: whether or not the virtual Church is a viable way to gratify the need for spiritual experiences when we are in a lockdown situation, unable to meet as a community for worship. Revd Dr. M. J. Joseph highlights some of the lessons that we should learn for this epidemic; he states: “The problems emerging from Covid-19 are not simply an issue of Health and Medical science. It is a very complex problem concerning the whole humanity today in its social, cultural, economic and spiritual dimensions.”

Mr. George Kutty, in awell-crafted article, challengesthethesis that plague and such disasters are means by which a vengeful God punishes people who offend Him. He also questions the institutionalised and authoritarian nature of the Church and worship practices and suggests the need to find new ways of worshiping God ‘in spiritand in truth’.

Revd Dr. Valson Thampu’s article on ‘Religious Atheists’ requires our thoughtful consideration in the context of the pandemic. Jesus warns against a religion that is merely external, based upon rituals, traditions and regulations. Just as ceremonial washing cannot cleanse us from sin; neither can the observance of strict dietary and other laws prevent sin from taking hold in our lives. The faith Jesus proclaims is more internal, a matter of the heart, responding in faith and obedience to his teachings. It requires us to have an intimate, indwelling, relationship with Jesus.

We express our gratitude to on ‘Eschatology’ based on a

Revd

study

Shibu Kurian

of

2nd letter of for his article St. Peter. It is

appropriate to think about Eschatology and Parousia in

the context of the current pandemic; we find that Christian life is a tension between an ‘already but not yet’ reality of the kingdom of God. Mr. P. T. Mathew has written on the theme that worshipisacelebration offaith togiveglorytoGod.

Lal Varghese, Eq., writes: “The disruption caused by COVID19 must help the people of God, the Church, to have a real transformation from a nominally worshipping community to that of a missional Church expressing God’s unconditional love for His whole creation.”

It gives the Editorial Board great pleasure to welcome Mr. George Thomas to the family of writers of the FOCUS journal. His article on the ‘eight lessons learned from the CORONA-19 Pandemic’ should be of great interest to all our readers. Such an insightful article is very helpful for us to face a post- COVID19 pandemic landscape to formulate the policies necessary under the guidance of the Holy Spirit for providing the help needed in all aspects of living on this planet for giving glory to God.

Revd Dr. Martin Alphonse gives a very balanced biblical perspective and highlights the ongoing theological discussions on the probable end time scenario and the second coming of Jesus Christ in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Human beings are created in the image of God for living in varied relationships: one with another, in family groups, other social groups and in the fellowship with others in church assemblies and with nature and so on. However, when Christian teaching is concentrated exclusively on the salvation of the individual in order to gain a passport for reaching to heaven, one forgets one’s responsibilities to others. It can easily become an escapist attitude of having a better life after death. The Indian mystic, Sri Aurobindo, said, “A solitary salvation leaving the