By Jacob Peenikaparambil

Indore, April 17, 2020: Several organizations and individuals all over the world are doing their best to save people from the jaws of pandemic Covid 19.

Thousands of doctors, nurses and healthcare workers are the front line soldiers in the fight against coronavirus pandemic. The police, suppliers of essential items and people involved in providing essential services take great risk. Innumerable are the persons and organizations involved in the fight against coronavirus by providing finance, medicine, personal protection equipments and food materials. God is working through all these individuals and organizations. Millions of people are sending their positive vibes and prayers for the people infected and affected by the deadly virus.

The Catholic Church in India has joined hands with federal and statement governments to help the victims. Church-run hospitals have converted some wings as dedicated quarantine blocks. Education institutions also support in various ways. Shelter homes offer food and place for the poor to stay. Many Church institutions and organizations provide food and shelter to migrant workers held up in various cities. Indeed God is working through human beings.

The movie ‘Manjhi, Mountain Man’ ends with a pertinent statement by Dasrath Manjhi, the hero of the movie. “Don’t wait for God to act; God may be placing his hope in us.” Disasters, both natural and human made, are the occasions for humans to act quickly and urgently. It is a time when prayer has to become action. It is not a time to spend time and resources in dogmatic discussions that diverst people’s from finding creative solutions.

According to Genesis 26-27, God created human beings in his own image and likeness. It means that human beings share in the freedom and creativity of God. The scientific and technological progress that the world has made so far is nothing but the flowering of creativity that God has instilled in human beings.

“Necessity is the mother of invention.” Human creativity finds solutions especially during crises. Covid 19 is indeed a huge global crisis that has no parallel in human history. This is the time when all nations have to pool together their creative energies and find solutions and support each other.

At this crucial juncture the religious leaders have to inspire and encourage people to realize, actualize and maximize the Divine within them to withstand and overcome Covid 19. Most Catholics in the world have faith in Mary, Mother of Jesus as a role model of Christian living, a woman of altruism and sensitivity.

Is it needed to dogmatically proclaim Mary as “spiritual Mother of all Peoples” by the Pope at this point in time as recommended by two cardinals and six bishops? Will not Mother Mary bless her people without this additional designation given by Pope? I don’t think that Mother Mary will be pleased with one more title and would become extra generous. According to my faith, her generosity does not depend on the titles the human beings bestow on her.

These bishops and cardinals should have contributed from their resources to support people infected and affected by Covid 19 and should have presented themselves as role models of genuine love and altruism. This is the time for the Church to reflect the human face of Jesus through her actions.

Ever since Pope Francis assumed the role of the head of the Catholic Church, his concern has been presenting the human face of Jesus through the Church. His speeches, statements and actions have been focused on issues facing humanity. His encyclical Laudate Si, was in fact addressed to all people of the world for protecting humanity from an impending catastrophe.

He challenged the unjust global economic system. He has made advocating for the poor and unemployed, and against economic inequality, a hallmark of his papacy. In one of his speeches at Bolivia he had said, “An unfettered pursuit of money rules. This is the ‘dung of the devil”

“Go out to the peripheries!” has been Francis’ clarion call throughout his papacy, and it has been evident in his great concern for immigrants and refugees around the world. Another important concern of Pope Francis was resolving global conflicts. Pope Francis brought together the presidents of Israel and the Palestinian authority on June 8, 2014 at Vatican to join in prayer and promise to seek peace.

I don’t think that Pope Francis will divert his attention from issues afflicting humanity and focus on dogmatic issues that are not going to serve any purpose. One more addition to the titles of Mother Mary will not make any change in the devotion and honor towards her on the part of the Catholic Faithful. COVID 19 has given an opportunity for the Catholic Church to reflect the human face of Jesus and Many Catholics all over the world are sincerely doing it. Mother Mary is a great source of inspiration and encouragement for all these Catholics.

(The writer is available at jacobpt48@gmail.com)