Special
‘Am I my brothers’ keeper?’ COVID-19 and the common good Guest Columnist Father Joshua Rodrigue, S.T.L.
When God asks Cain about Abel’s absence in Genesis 4:9, Cain responds, “I do not know. Am I my brother’s keeper?” and evades having to answer truthfully that he had killed his own brother out of anger and jealousy. And yet as Christians, we are called to watch over and care for our brothers and sisters, to be their keeper. Christ commanded us to model his sacrificial love, “Love one another as I love you” (John 15:12). Over the past year and a half, our normal way of life faced great hardships because of the coronavirus pandemic. Throughout the world, family life, work, school, recreation and even worship were greatly affected. We suddenly realized what really matters to us in life. The Approaching Storm In March of 2020, perhaps Pope Francis’s extraordinary Urbi et Orbi (to the City of Rome and to the World) showed just how different the world had become. The world saw an elderly pope dressed in his white cassock, walking up the steps, alone, in the light rain under a darkening sky, reaching the solitary podium and turning to address an unfamiliar sight, not thousands of people waiting to see and hear him, but instead St. Peter’s Square empty of flashing cameras from tourists but instead reflecting off the rain-soaked pavement the flashing blue lights from the police cars outside Vatican City. “For weeks now it has been evening,” said Pope Francis. “Thick darkness has gathered over our squares, our
March 2020 - Pope Francis in an empty St. Peter’s Square streets and our cities; it has taken over our lives, filling everything with a deafening silence and a distressing void, that stops everything as it passes by; we feel it in the air, we notice it in people’s gestures, their glances give them away.” The television cameras broadcasted such a powerful moment. No Oscarwinning director could have scripted and directed a more powerful cinematic image. Though separated from one another throughout the world, for a moment there was a sense of being together, united by Christ and filled with the light of hope in the midst of darkness. We were in the boat with Christ being tossed about by a pandemic storm with waves of uncertainty engulfing both the boat and our spirits, but at that moment came a sense of peace and comfort. Pope Francis encouraged the world, “From this colonnade that embraces Rome and the whole world, may God’s
18 • Bayou Catholic • Diocese of Houma-Thibodaux • September 2021
blessing come down upon you as a consoling embrace. Lord, may you bless the world, give health to our bodies and comfort our hearts. You ask us not to be afraid. Yet our faith is weak and we are fearful. But you, Lord, will not leave us at the mercy of the storm. Tell us again: ‘Do not be afraid’ (Matthew 28:5). And we, together with Peter, ‘cast all our anxieties onto you, for you care about us’ (cf. 1 Peter 5:7).” We would be able to weather the approaching storm. The Italian Experience As this storm moved throughout the world, countries began to lockdown with people sheltering in place. In Italy, we were mandated to remain in our own dwellings for what ended up being a total of eight weeks, with periodic lockdowns throughout the next year, especially at Christmas and Easter. The effects of the virus were devastating to the people and their carefree life in Italy. Having lived in Rome for five
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