“Passion” comes from Latin and means suffering. “Compassion” comes from Latin cum, meaning with, and passus, to suffer, to endure. Compassion suffers alongside the one suffering.
Psalm 103:13 (NIV)
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
Good news! Christ suffered for us, and Christ suffers with us. We do not suffer isolated and alone.
Pandemic or no, this is Holy Week, a time to remember the Passion of Christ. Why Passion? We don’t find that title in Scripture. It comes from Latin, passio, suffering. We remember how Christ suffered on our behalf.
Most of us are stuck at home, keeping our social distance. How are you doing?
Many among us are working fervently. Some are seriously ill. Some are suffering the loss of loved ones. And many of us are actually quite comfortable. Christ suffered for us all.
“I will trust Him. Whatever, wherever I am, I can never be thrown away. If I am in sickness, my sickness may serve Him; in perplexity, my perplexity may serve Him; if I am in sorrow, my sorrow may serve Him. My sickness, or perplexity, or sorrow may be necessary causes of some great end, which is quite beyond us. He does nothing in vain.”
John Henry Newman (1801-1890)
Sick, scared and sad, yes. But not without hope. Ultimately, the pandemic will serve God’s purpose and plan.
Act wisely, and fear not:
Psalm 91:1-3, 5-6 (NIV)
Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Surely he will save you
from the fowler’s snare
and from the deadly pestilence . . .
You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
Day and night, God’s got this.
I have a simple question:
If there were no new COVID-19 cases tomorrow morning, would you give God the credit?
We’re looking to flatten the curve. What if God ended it?
Ephesians 3:20 (NIRV)
God is able to do far more than
we could ever ask for or imagine.
Here’s an Old Testament plague story. King David knowingly disobeyed God, and there were consequences–with a limit set by God:
1 Chronicles 21:14-15 (NIV)
So the Lord sent a plague on Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell dead . . . the Lord saw it and relented concerning the disaster and said to the angel who was destroying the people, “Enough! Withdraw your hand.”
The angel hit the pause button.
Let this be enough, Lord! Hear our prayer, in Jesus’ name.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NIV)
if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.
This is a familiar verse. Have you, like this verse says, been spending more time in prayer?
Do you recognize the verse right before this familiar “if“?
2 Chronicles 7:13 (NIV)
When I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or command locusts to devour the land or send a plague among my people
I’m not saying God launched this coronavirus. I’m wondering what it takes to make us pray.
Most of you will read this post from the comfort of your own home. Sheltering in your home is a safe option. What about those who don’t have a home?
Here’s a March 20th report from Pix11.com:
“An estimated 64,000 New Yorkers were homeless at the beginning of this crisis — 60,000 of which generally spend their evenings in city shelters . . . the shelter system is not set up for the appropriate amount of social distancing necessary at this time.”
Kassandra Frederique with the Drug Policy Alliance adds:
“Even a sink where they can wash their hands, and follow this very standard medical advice, public health advice, is a challenge for people.”
Street Life Ministries continues to reach out to the poor and homeless in New York City. This is from their most recent newsletter:
“The poor, hurting, and homeless still are poor, hurting, and homeless. They are in even greater need of love and compassion, as well as the practical items we bring weekly. Over 60,000 are in shelters, 10-20,000 are on the streets throughout the boroughs of New York City. All are in dire need and it’s worsening by the day!”
We are grateful, Lord. for our safe spaces. Shelter those who have no safe space. Protect and provide for those who leave their safe spaces to minster to them, in Jesus’ name.
“The soul that walks in love
neither tires others
nor grows tired.”
St. John of the Cross (1542-1591)
