“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.” (John 14:1)
Very comforting words as we continue to live mid this world pandemic. These words of Jesus come in the setting of the Last Supper. He has just washed the feet of the apostles, told them He would be betrayed and then said that He would not be with them much longer, which frightened them as they wondered what they would do without their Teacher, their Leader and Friend. Jesus calms their fears: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me.” “The statement is a promise, a word of comfort to His disciples. Jesus Himself is all they need, there is in need to panic, no need to search for other ways…” [Elizabeth Johnson, Professor Lutheran Institute of Theology].
It has been 8 weeks that we have been sheltering in, following all the directives of the expert medical teams have given us, though fear continues to affect decisions of not only those ‘in charge’ and those of us who wonder if it is really safe to go out even to the doctor, shopping, or our work places. There has been and still continues a plethora of prayer related posts on Facebook petitioning God to stop the virus, heal those who are affected by it and give peace to those who have died because of it. Prayers also to thank God for those who have overcome the disease, those on the way to recover. Prayers for the doctors, nurses, volunteers and all who are working in any way to help those in dire need. And the prayers are a sign of the trust we have in Jesus’s words and the promise of His presence with us always. TV, and social media show day by day the “good works” people are doing because they believe in Jesus’s words and works. Our prayers of trusting in God have shown in the response of hundreds of people helping, sharing, offering, sacrificing and giving of themselves to come to the aid of any one in any need. The world is changed and for the better.
People’s trust in Jesus has lessened the fear, increased the trust in God, concern and care of their neighbor because “he who has seen me, sees the Father.” Where have you seen the Father? Where have you seen the ‘works of the Lord’?
Sister Celeste Hupert, CSFN
