Only by God’s hands

By Modesto P. Sa-onoy

Negros Occidental Gov. Eugenio Jose Lacson was reported last March 25 to be “emotional” while leading the Capitol employees in community prayer, against the coronavirus disease Covid-19 threat. The employees’ prayer was held in front of the provincial Capitol, an appropriate setting and representation by the Governor to show a collective effort to appeal to heaven for deliverance.

Lacson, whose voice broke as he spoke, said that “Negrenses are now facing an adversary that is ‘new and invisible’, with the virus having already reaching Negros Island. We are not alone in this battle, we have God, whom we might have disregarded and overlooked due to the haste of our modern lives and love of self.

“While the virus has reached our island, this is not the time to cower in fear and confusion. Instead, this is the time to fortify our faith with prayers. We Negrenses are God’s people and he will surely hear our pleas for help.”

The Governor stressed that “the disease knows no earthly power, as even powerful nations are frightened and shaken by it” and thus “it reminds all of us, on our dependence on Gods’ mercy and grace. No victory over anything, over any disease is possible without God”. Nothing better can be said when humans are helpless against a tiny creature that can succumb to God. How I wish others in government and the public realize this profound eternal truth: everything is in the God’s hand.

So it is that Pope Francis walked under the rain, alone through the St. Peter’s Square, accompanied by a few assistants, to pray before the exposed Blessed Sacrament and the icons of the Crucified Christ and of the Blessed Mother that were processed centuries ago and stopped the plaques that killed thousands. He then blessed the world and granted plenary indulgence in an extraordinary situation by dispensing with the required confession and Holy Communion.

In his meditation on the Gospel, the Holy Father quoted Christ asking His disciples, “Why are you afraid? Have you no faith?”. Meditating on this passage the Pope said, “Lord, your word this evening strikes us and regards us, all of us. In this world, that you love more than we do, we have gone ahead at breakneck speed, feeling powerful and able to do anything. Greedy for profit, we let ourselves get caught up in things, and lured away by haste. We did not stop at your reproach to us, we were not shaken awake by wars or injustice across the world, nor did we listen to the cry of the poor or of our ailing planet. We carried on regardless, thinking we would stay healthy in a world that was sick. Now that we are in a stormy sea, we implore you: “Wake up, Lord!”.

The Lord is not asleep, we just lack the faith, the reason we are afraid.

Fr. Sean Coyle sent me the prayer to St. Columbanus to share with our readers. I mentioned last week what the Columban fathers had been doing in the face of this pandemic. Here is the prayer that I hope our readers will also adopt. I thank Fr. Coyle for his continued concern for us.

“O Columbanus of Mt. Leinster. Bangor, Lexeuil, Bergenz and Bobbio, your name rings out across Europe and the rest of the world. Come to our aid and rise up and help us in our need. As pilgrims in the journey, we ask you to keep us safe from the corona virus that knows no borders. Help those who suffer, protect those who are exposed and vulnerable, enlighten those who respond, guide those who govern. Calm our fears, give us a new vision of Life and intercede for us before God the Most High to stop the spread of this virus that we may continue to work together for a new civilization of love for all.”

Fr. Deo Camon also sent me the “Suggested Bible Reading/Sharing for Families at Home during the Holy Week” prepared by the Commission on Bible Apostolate of the Diocese of Bacolod. This is a guide for Catholics in observance of the Holy Week because of closure of the churches and the ban on gathering. Our observance will thus be as solemn and productive as we are in church. You can ask for a pdf through his cellphone number 09195101298.