St. Joseph of the Lakes

It is 7:08 am on Tuesday morning December 28, and as I write this column, once again Dr. Ashi Jha is giving the same report on the COVID virus. The major change of the moment (so that there might be anything to report) is that the waiting period if you have been exposed to the virus but are a-symptomatic has been reduced to five days. If ever there were a New Years resolution that I wish I could make is to never hear COVID on national news throughout the new year. I believe that there could be so many positive implications manifested if this could happen.

The following story on the news was of a woman yelling at and finally slapping an older gentleman because he didn’t act immediately when she demanded he put on his mask. I suspect she was propelled into moral justification for her action by the “concern” our news media seems to be generating about protecting ourselves and others from the disease. The downturn in the waiting period after exposure sure sounds like the same precautions one would have for the common cold, but of course, I am not Dr. Jha, so what do I know….

This constant harangue concerning the virus is driving against one of our most basic Christian principles: “love one another as I love you”. There are some who have so twisted this maxim that they have condemned the un masked and unvaccinated as being unloving while they foist themselves and those like themselves as the truly loving people. Yes, the Pope has told us that to get vaccinated is an act of love, however he has not encouraged us to condemn those who aren’t. Jesus’ example is seen every time we walk into the church: the crucifix! His love is best exemplified as death to self and self-interest. This certainly was not displayed by the angry woman slapping a senior citizen.

This disease has been devastating, many have lost family and friends because of it. I do not want to make light of this reality, yet, the call of Christianity penetrates beyond its devastation towards the other, no matter what their situation. Our challenge rests in our ability to love a person in any circumstance, not just the ones we have been told to be concerned about. My new year’s question: who are you allowing to influence your values? Are they really the right ones to listen to?