Page 6 - HQ May June July 2020

“God is our ally, not the ally of the virus!”

On Good Friday, 2020, permitted human freedom to take its course, making
the Preacher of the Pontifical it serve His own purposes and not those of human
Household, Fr. Raniero Can- beings. This is also the case for natural disasters, like
talamessa O.F.M.Cap., deliv- earthquakes and plagues. He does not bring them
ered a homily at St. Peter’s about. He has given nature a kind of freedom as well,
Basilica. Excerpts of the hom- qualitatively different of course than that given hu-
ily follow. man beings, but still a form of freedom—freedom to
This year we read the ac- evolve according to its own laws of development. He
count of the Passion with a did not create a world as a programmed clock whose
question in our hearts—rath- least little movement could be anticipated. It is what
er, with a cry—that is rising up over the whole earth. some call “chance” but the Bible calls instead “the
The pandemic of Coronavirus has abruptly wisdom of God.”
roused us from the greatest danger to which individ- The word of God tells us the first thing we should
uals and humanity have always been susceptible: the do at times like these is to cry out to Him. He is the
delusion of omnipotence… It took the smallest and one who puts on people’s lips the words to cry out;
most formless element of nature, a virus, to remind at times harsh words of lament and almost of accus-
us that we are mortal; that neither military power nor ation: “Awake! Why do You sleep, O Lord? / Rise
technology are sufficient to save us. up! Do not reject us forever! . . . Rise up, help us!
While he was painting frescoes in St. Paul’s Cath- / Redeem us in Your mercy” (Ps 44: 23). “Teacher,
edral in London, the artist James Thornhill became do You not care that we are perishing?” (Mark 4:38).
so excited about his work that he stepped back to Does God perhaps like to be petitioned so that
see it better and was not aware he was about to fall he can grant His benefits? Can our prayer perhaps
over the edge of the scaffolding. A horrified assistant make God change his plans? …There are things that
understood that crying out to him would have hast- God has decided to grant us as the fruit both of His
ened the disaster. Without thinking twice, he dipped grace and of our prayer, almost as though sharing
a brush in paint and hurled it at the middle of the with his creatures the credit for the benefit received.
fresco. The master, appalled, sprang forward. His (St. Thomas Aquinas, Summa Theologicae, II-IIae, q.
work was damaged, but he was saved. 83, a. 26) God is the one who prompts us to do it:
God does this with us sometimes. He disrupts “Seek and you will find”, Jesus said; “knock and the
door will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).
our projects and our calm to save us from the abyss
we don’t see. We must be careful not to be deceived When the Israelites were bitten by poisonous
however. God is not the one who hurled the brush serpents in the desert, God commanded Moses to
at the sparkling fresco of our technological society. lift up a serpent of bronze on a pole, and whoever
God is our ally, not the ally of the virus! He says in looked at it would not die. Jesus appropriated this
the Bible, “I have . . . plans for your welfare and not symbol to Himself when He told Nicodemus, “Just
for woe” (Jer 29:11). as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must
If these scourges were God’s punishments, it the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who
believes in Him may have eternal life” (John 3:14).
would not explain why they have struck equally the We too at this moment have been bitten by an invis-
good and the bad and why the poor experience the ible, poisonous serpent.
worst consequences. Are they worse sinners than
others? No! The One who cried at Lazarus’ death Let us gaze upon the One who was “lifted up” for
cries today for the scourge that has befallen human- us on the cross. Let us adore Him on behalf of our-
ity. Yes, God “suffers”, like every father and every selves and of the whole human race. The one who
mother. When we discover this one day we will be looks on Him with faith does not die. And if that per-
ashamed of the accusations we made against Him in son dies, it will be to enter eternal life.
this life. God participates in our pain to overcome it. “After three days I will rise”, Jesus had foretold.
St. Augustine wrote: “Being supremely good, God We too, after these days that we hope will be short,
would not allow any evil in His works, unless in will rise and come out of the tombs of our homes.
His omnipotence and goodness, He is able to bring Not however to return to the former life like Lazarus,
forth good out of evil.” but to a new life, like Jesus. A more fraternal, more
Did God the Father possibly desire the death of humane, more Christian life! v
his Son in order to draw good out of it? No, he simply Fr. Raniero Cantalamessa, O.F.M.Cap.

6 MICHAEL May/June/July 2020 www.michaeljournal.org