Redeemer Lutheran & St. Theodore

By Lisa Rotchford

Reverend

A virus cannot be seen, but we can see the effects of it on individuals and the community. How we respond to it is something we are all called to do – social distancing, wearing masks and staying home – our response is the only thing we can control in a spiraling pandemic.

Faith, too, cannot be seen, but we can see the effects of it on ourselves and those around us. Our response is the only thing we can control. How we respond to life — through our faith — is the only thing we can do at any time, especially times of uncertainty.

As a community we are called, like the people of ancient Corinth, to remember “we live by faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love.” St. Paul wrote these words of encouragement 2,000 years ago for us to remember and read now.

Though things have changed — and we’ve seen the virus change our world these past few months — we have centuries of history to remind us that at all times we are called to share God’s love by our actions rooted in our faith and hope. Though faith and hope may be invisible, we live by faith, conduct our lives in hope, and know God’s love. Our loving, supportive responses to one another — especially in uncertain times — make the invisible, visible.

A strong “invisible” faith, hope in God who loves and cares for us, and our ability to care for one another in loving actions shows the world that no invisible virus can destroy our spirits. No virus can destroy our relationship with God.

The daily prayer — the Shema from Deuteronomy in the Old Testament and Jesus’ Great Commandment from the New — is proclaimed on the lips of the faithful daily: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength.” (Deut 6; Mark 12, Matthew 22, and Luke 10.) When challenged by an invisible virus, respond with a very visible faith of hope and love!