FEATURE ARTICLE

Friday, April 3, 2020
[email protected]
Pontifical Urban University, Vatican City (Rome)
COVID-19: A CALL FOR RESPONSIVE SPIRITUAL LEADERSHIP

s I reflect once more, in this my second article on the COVID-19, which is presently taking its tolls worldwide, I became conscious of one thing. It is the danger of leaving the fight against the deadly respiratory virus COVID-19, only at the hands of experts in the fields of science and medicine; or at guesswork of charlatan pastors and Imams. More seriously, is the danger of leaving it at the hands of modern-day popularity seekers, like the 'end-time' prophets, activists and celebrities, as well as social media e-warriors, etc.

In as much as information from, and opinions of every individual and organization, especially those coming from experts in the field are very essential, at the same time, they do not exhaust, nor ravel the whole 'secret' behind a deadly scourge such as Coronavirus - COVID-19 pandemic, which is already, a matter of life and death! This is because at a time like this, the world yearns for spiritual leadership, and divine intervention. That is, in the true sense of the word.

Take for instance, in most African countries, there is no emotional link between government and the governed. Because the government itself is not structured from bottom top, to cater for the basic needs of the masses at the grassroots level. In this case, how are the people going to survive under the general lockdown imposed today in our villages, towns and cities to checkmate the spread of the deadly virus Coronavirus - COVID-19? In a country, where basic functions of government such as security of life and property as well as welfare of the people are not a priority, and virtually, are non-existent, how are the poor masses going to survive?

In a country where a government that is meant to provide the masses with basic necessities - adequate security of lives and property, cater for their welfare, is rotten, corrupt and overtaken by religious bigotry and ethnocentrism, lopsided governance or dictatorship, what will be the fate of such a people at this time of COVID-19 pandemic lockdown? In a country where social structures such as health sector and hospitals are nothing to write home about, majority of the people not gainfully employed, nor their God-given talents allowed to develop naturally, or be utilized optimally for the common good, what will be the fate of the masses in that country at a time like this?

In a country where basic social needs of the people for daily survival, such as electricity, pipe borne water, good roads network, railways, seaports, airports, sanitation, reliable and stable Banking system, pension benefits, employment benefits, etc., are not available to the vast majority of the people, what will be the fate of the poor masses? That is, in inner cities, towns and villages at a time like this! In a country where there is no social security for the masses, no reliable data or census figures of how many people and families actually live in that country, only heaven knows how all the measures government officials have been marshalling out to checkmate the COVID-19 pandemic will be contained or delivered. How poor masses in such a country are going to survive the present lockdown meant to checkmate the spread of the deadly disease Coronavirus - COVID-19, remains a mirage?

How would one expect a country that has not considered it a necessity to have an accurate population census of its own, to determine how many people actually live in its territory, will ever consider it a priority to provide a data base of how many families that live in that country? A country that relies on foreigners' projections or speculations to determine its own demographic strength, will such a country ever consider it a priority to work towards having a data base of its own, that will enable it know the number of families in its territory, including their different house-to-house addresses, across the land?

You see why most African governments can never be trusted. Because they do not have data of the number of families in their respective countries, and neither have they their addresses, through which such public distribution of financial assistance and relief goods are done.

In fact, I have been asking myself, what of if each of the parish priests, chaplains and pastors as well as Imams in different African countries and communities, use this period of COVID-19 stay-at-home order, to conduct an 'informal house-to-house census', in their respective parishes/worshipping communities? The aim of which will be to provide themselves for internal use, in each parish/worshipping community, with a data base for their parish church's pastoral care, charity apostolate, and spiritual counseling.

In fact, an organized and purposeful home/family apostolate in respective parishes/worshipping communities is very crucial this time, to save lives. Because, if we continue to wait for such a time, population census and family data in every community, will be made available through government efforts and offices, it will never happen, at least in most of the African countries, as things stand today!

Assuming we have such structure and data in our respective parishes and worshipping communities in all African countries throughout the continent, that would have made it easier for the churches and other religious bodies to be more responsive and closer to the people at this time of COVID-19 lockdown. It would have also helped the churches to engage in a more accurate and massive charitable distribution of relief materials and food to the needy, especially to most of the families experiencing financial difficulties as a result of the COVID-19 lockdown. It would have helped parishes to attend to the sick in their houses, without discrimination, or consideration of their social status in the society. To look after all those experiencing one kind of depression, stress or the other as a result of the challenges of the moment.

In fact, if such structures are in place in our parishes and worshipping communities, it could have helped a great deal, to attract more philanthropic help and donations to the churches from generous and rich members of the society. Those of them who want to assist the poor but do not trust government agencies and the so-called NGOs.

Therefore, methinks that if the churches, through parish priests and pastors, can use this period of COVID-19 stay-at-home order to embark on such a venture, that would be one good way of bearing true witness to what we have called here, 'responsive spiritual and pastoral leadership.' It will be one way of purging away from the face of the earth, the contaminated atmosphere of Coronavirus - COVID-19 pandemic, and refilling it with church's ecclesial charity, pastoral care and deep spirituality, shaped by the love of Christ and the church, through our collective and individual ecclesial witness of love of God and neighbor.

This is because many people, as we speak, are trapped and dying in their homes, uncared for, because of the shady way African governments are handling the crisis of COVID-19. The question is, 'what are the churches and our religious leaders doing to remedy this situation, and save the lives of the poor masses in Africa?'

This is the type challenge of spiritual leadership and pastoral care that are yet to be given adequate attention by the churches at a time like this. It is an antidote to the evils behind the contaminated air and atmosphere created by Coronavirus - COVID-19 pandemic.

This is part of what I meant in my previous article when we proposed 'solitude' not 'isolation' during this period of COVID-19 stay-at-home' order. Unlike 'isolation' which means separating oneself completely from having anything to do with people around you and the world, 'solitude' on the other hands, is openness to the world. Solitude is a kind of universal solicitation and love one manifests towards his/her neighbor in spite of the difficulties of the moment.

The Fatigue of a true Spiritual Leader at a Time of Crisis

Another aspect of spiritual leadership at a time of crisis like ours today, is what spiritual writers call 'the fatigue of a true spiritual leader.' The spiritual writer, George Liddel, summarizes the qualities of such a true spiritual leader thus:

"Give me a man of God - one man,
One mighty prophet of the Lord, whose heart, is touched by heavens' fire,
And I will give you peace on earth,
Bought with a prayer and not a sword."
(George Liddel, quoted in J. Oswald Sanders' "Spiritual Leadership")

At a time like this, the world looks up to God through the spiritual leadership of the saintly, if not 'mystic', holy and truly prophetic religious leaders, who are ready to sacrifice everything, challenge the moment and save the lives of God's people on earth. Not through sword, scientists' speculations or charlatan 'prophesy'. Rather through spiritual leadership and holiness of life. The world needs a holy man/woman of God, a truly religious and spiritual leader to help us all navigate through this tunnel of COVID-19 that is ravaging the world and humanity.

Look at the countless number of lives so far lost at the cold hands of COVID-19; the agony of many patient-victims in hospitals and homes; the sacrifices of our medical personnel, and other workers on essential duties. The fear that we are yet to see the worst devastation of the deadly virus. What of the general and total lockdown of towns and cities across the globe, caused by the deadly virus, the suspension of public religious worship, the stay-at-home order and 'disorder', etc. The hardship of hunger and suffering all these have brought upon the poor masses of the world!

In all these, however, one begins to wonder! 'Is it not time we begin a spiritual journey as a people, led by a truly holy man of God, to purge away from the earth, the 'contaminated' atmosphere of deadly air of Coronavirus - COVID-19'? Is it not time we begin spiritual journey, with our individual and collective lives, use this period to purge away the dirt from our lives and society, be renewed, and refilled anew, with the healing and 'creative' Spirit of the Risen Christ?

Today, more than ever, the 'perverse mystical and anti-moral contaminated' atmosphere of the earth by Coronavirus - COVID-19, needs to be cleansed. In its place, let us infuse and refill the earth once more, with our deep, authentic Christian spirituality, and Godly moral principles. Once cleansed, the earth, redeemed through the Mystery of Christ, will be refilled and renewed, once more, by the same Spirit of the healing mercy of God through Jesus Christ, redeemer of humankind and the world.

This implies our invoking down upon the earth, our individual lives and society, through life of holiness and responsive spiritual leadership, the abiding presence and healing Spirit of God, revealed in Jesus Christ, and witnessed by Martyrs, Saints and Mystics, down the ages.

Holiness of life, courage and hope is key in this war against COVID-19. Just as those holy men and women of the past, in salvation history and Christian witness, set off, walked the extra mile, tired, but without giving up hope, sailed through, and saved the people and society. We too, are challenged today, in the same manner, to fight this COVID-19 pandemic.

To do this, however, we as a people need to listen clearly to God, and to our authentic, true religious leaders - holy shepherds of God's flock. In our context, the Pontiff and Bishops, not necessarily the corrupt and self-serving politicians. After all, politicians and governments, not Bishops or the Pontiff, are the ones that put us in the mess we found ourselves today. We are where we are today, largely, because of these so-called politicians, governments and elites. Unfortunately, together with the rest of us, they also, are at least, now feeling the scourge of the deadly virus, COVID-19, just like the rest of us, common people. We are all now in the same 'mess', under the storms and cloudless thunder of COVID-19 pandemic.

In fact, most of our politicians, members of the ruling class and elites are beginning to complain that they are no more 'eating bread and butter' as before. Because of the total lockdown of many cities and towns across the globe, politicians, members of the ruling class and elites are now lamenting, 'We are now all starving.' Some of them are confessing and claiming to be have started experiencing the hardship caused by COVID-19!

It is no longer business as usual for almost everybody. Most of our politicians, members of the ruling class and elites, for instance, who used to go on medical pilgrimages at the best hospitals in the developed parts of the world, could no longer do so, because of COVID-19. They have messed us up and they have no solution to the COVID-19. They now find themselves in the same situation with us; situation caused by their many years of leadership of neglect. They now found themselves too, in poverty of ideas, thus "planning to ditch out more toxic 'vaccines' and perhaps, lead everyone into the hole of oblivion." God forbid!

Conclusion

What the world is experiencing now because of this pandemic COVID-19, cannot be left only at the hands of politicians, elites, scientists and speculators of market economy alone. While scientists and politicians are encouraged to be responsive to their duties, especially during this trying period, the religious leaders must do likewise, in their own camp. In fact, religious leaders are supposed to do more, and not fold their arms, watch the world and human race sink into oblivion.

All this shows why we must call upon our God, so that in His mercy, He will recall His people back to His redeemed world in Christ, and save the lives of our people on earth. Otherwise, these clueless, 'corrupt' political class and elites, may cause more harm to humanity and the world with this COVID-19, than envisaged. At this critical moment of COVID-19 pandemic, the world yearns for spiritual direction and leadership.

This is time for spiritual leaders to arise, offer the needed leadership, and respond courageously to this greatest of all the challenges of our time to humanity. Again, this is not the vocation of politicians and scientists as the case may be. Rather, that of a truly religious leader, who is deeply spiritual, holy and detached from earthly pursuit and corruption.

Please, stay safe!

Wishing you a grace-filled Holy Week of the Passion of Christ!

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