Why is God allowing this pandemic?
Saint Paisios of the Mount Athos said, “So in every
test, let us say, ‘Thank you, my God, because this was needed for my
salvation.'” This is because a person has salvation not only by his good deeds,
but also by his patient suffering of various griefs, illnesses, misfortunes,
and failures (Luke 16:19-31, Mark 8:31-38, Romans 6:3-11, Hebrews 12:1-3, and
Galatians 6:14).
Jesus Christ gives us the power which is needed for
transformation, and prepares us to live with a strength under the most
difficult conditions, preparing us for the peace that is eternal. History is
filled with periods of trial and tribulation, but we’ve always come out
stronger in the end, and we will come out of this pandemic as well.
Without suffering, we can not join ourselves to the
cross, and when we do take up our cross in suffering, it is with our
Co-Suffering Saviour. Sickness and suffering are not given to us by a wrathful
and punitive God because we have sinned, but rather allowed by this loving God
who co-suffers with us. It is Western juridical misconceptions concerning sin
which has tended to distort a proper recognition of suffering and its
connection to sin.
Our world has been in a bad place for a very long
time, with priorities for most people, and their nations, centered on the
acquisition of wealth and comfort. Western Europe has long abandoned her
Christian roots, as has America. In these latter times, is it any wonder a
pandemic that has closed down the world’s economy, and forced millions to be
sequestered in their homes, is being allowed by God as a wakeup call to all of
us?
As hard as it is, we must use this difficult time to
look inward, and take a very serious look at ourselves, and the direction we
have been taking. Now is the time we need to refocus on that which is of
eternal value. Our children need their parents to refocus the family on Christ,
putting aside everything else. Even as individuals, we need to enter into that
silent place, perhaps with the aid of the Jesus Prayer, and find the true peace
“that passes understanding”.
The Church’s history is filled with times like these,
where, even during terrible persecutions, Christians found solace in their walk
with Jesus Christ. Our Co-Suffering Saviour is not abandoning us, but rather,
joining Himself with our suffering. We will all get through this period of
pandemic, together with the extreme economic hardship that has befallen the
world, and return, collectively, to being of Christ. In eternity, it is not about
being an American, a Russian, or a Brit, it is about being citizens of the
Kingdom of God.
With love in Christ,
Abbot Tryphon
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