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Proclaiming Christ in the New Normal

The spread of Corona Virus Disease of 2019 (or COVID-19) is causing traumatic catastrophe around the world that claimed millions of lives already since its outbreak last December 2019. Its initial name carries the origin of the disease – the Wuhan 2019 Novel Coronavirus (or 2019-n-Cov), or most specifically SARS-CoV-2 for the virus and COVID-19 for the disease, with biological features of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS of Guangdong, China, in 2002) and the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV of Saudi Arabia in 2012).

For eight months and counting, we have been lingering in the midst of dreadful pandemic – afraid, anxious and uncertain. But our life should not be like this.

When God created the world, how wonderful it was. His best creation was when he created mankind in his own image and likeness. We are so grateful for this gift of life that he shared to us by his divinity; it is our responsibility as stewards to take care and safeguard all of God’s creation. Through the Holy Spirit, we were given gifts to develop the world to the best that we could; and not the worst.

True enough, the threats of COVID-19 might have hindered us to move forward. Many parishioners are no longer visible in the parish, not even in the GKK. Because of this communicable disease, the entire nation is guided with the provisions of IATF Resolutions and Executive Orders of Davao City in restricting our mobility in the places of worship, which was followed by the Pastoral Advisories of our Archbishop Romulo Valles. All of these are intended for the benefit of our health and for the preservation of our life.

With many adverse effects on pandemic, I query: As supposedly participative community in the Holy Eucharist, is it necessary that we compromise our being one Body of Christ amidst the threat of COVID-19? Will this not downgrade our faith to Jesus Christ vis-à-vis our faith like the story in the Book of Job? How can we assert evangelization and proclaim Jesus Christ when we cannot empathically feel the personal reactions and responses of our recipients or parishioners?

I believe that our being one Body of Christ is not compromised, neither our faith is downgraded because of this dreadful pandemic COVID-19. I am hypocrite if I say that we are not affected; yes we are. However, as Father Robert Adam Cajipo asserted in our conference, we take this as an opportune moment for us to reach out to God. He illumined us to let our faith be not a foxhole religiosity, but a consolation as in the Book of Job, understanding suffering as meaningful and can purify us with our faith, hope and love to Jesus Christ as a fountain of life.

Having been quarantined for eight months, let us again revisit our faith to Jesus Christ. We may not be physically attentive (and participative) in the Holy Eucharist, Jesus heeds to us. By following the health protocols, we are not merely responding to the authorities, but we are showing our love and care to our brothers and sisters, by sanitizing our hands, wearing face mask (and face shield), and by maintaining physical distancing, to prevent the spread of the disease. Matthew 22:34-40 implied that if we really love God, we must also love our neighbor, by caring. This pandemic is not a curse that will downgrade our faith, but rather it is a challenge to purify our faith, hope and love to Jesus Christ.

V O N Z
Vigilance is what I must do
Overwhelmed with spirit and truth
Neither death shall keep me away
Zeal I must have as I lead my way.

When I composed this short poem about my name last 15 November 2019, four months before the start of our quarantine, I never thought that this could be my life-banner in the midst of this pandemic. This could also be my personal banner as I face the new normal. COVID-19 is here, and it remains on the air for long. How long? We do not know. Despite this phenomenon, our evangelization must continue. There is no reason for us not to continue with our apostolate. In fact, we have beautiful reasons to proclaim Jesus Christ in new normal. As I raise my banner, vigilance is what I must do overwhelmed with spirit and truth; neither (COVID nor) death shall keep me away, zeal I must have as I lead my way in evangelizing Jesus Christ in new normal.

My punch line remains this pandemic season: “COVID lang yan, Kristiyanos tayo…” Christians are soldiers of Christ. We have the fruits of the Holy Spirit: joy, love, faith, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control (Gal 5:22-23). We have the gifts of the Holy Spirit of wisdom, understanding, knowledge, counsel, fortitude, piety, and fear of the Lord. We have the cardinal virtues of prudence, temperament, justice, fortitude, love, faith, and hope. These are our armors against any forces of evil challenging our faith. (Vonzhemar M. Hijada, MAT)

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