With cinematic flair, this week amid the global pandemic comes to its close. The U.S. has passed an unprecedented $2T Bill that is really only the relief and rescue part of national operations to combat COVID-19. As Gov. Cuomo said in his press briefing today, “The focus is on saving lives.” He also gave a rousing speech commending the National Guard for the significance of their efforts and sacrifices under dire circumstances to join others in this herculean effort.
You are living a moment in history. This is going to be one of those moment they're going to write and they're going to talk about for generations. This is a moment that is going to change this nation.
Nationally though, the basics of social distancing, with or without a State order from Governors has been one of the factors in the balancing act between treating Trump nice and getting relief aid. This is flattery without a basis in reality. We are trying to #FlattenTheCurve through various means.
Speaking nicely and carrying a big shtick seems to also have claimed the voice of Dr. Brix.
Did she drink the Kool-Aid?
Finally, as a Catholic, the basics of social distancing have had a marked effect on the ritual patterns of my and our catholic communal life in unexpected ways. Certainly being unable to gather publicly to worship is one such way. But it has also affected the ability to do the direct service and outreach work and ministry we normally do.
Priests have found new ways to celebrate sacraments like Reconciliation (i.e. Confessions) employing social distancing. But community responses to things like how to educate students now staying at home, how to provide for school lunches or soup kitchens, how to sew masks for medical workers, how to train volunteers and specialists for their tasks ahead, how to check in on neighbors and look out for one another. These are all complicated both by social distancing, typical bureaucracy, and Trumpian ability to meet with shocking consistency low expectations.
Thoughts and prayers are clearly not enough for such national problems.
So I’ll end with this image of Pope Francis:
As a Catholic, I can appreciate this on so many levels. I am humbled. I am reminded of our utter dependency as creatures who are not the complete masters in control of our very existence. It is far more complex than what I want or do or cause to be. At the same time, to mix this image with the vernacular of our times:
This “Hail Mary” pass is not the global vaccine for coronavirus.
This is not universal healthcare, or even the means to test for coronavirus.
This is not PPEs or ventilators where they are needed most.
And none of what I am saying is to take religion or Catholicism, or the Pope down a peg. It is to point out, here is a man doing his particular essential job well.
Here’s another:
Andrew Cuomo: (34:47)
I hope we don't need 30,000 ventilators. I hope some natural weather change happens overnight and kills the virus globally. That's what I hope, but that's my hope. That's my emotion. That's my thought. The numbers say you may need 30,000.
But this picture below is altogether something else:
May God have mercy on us.
Until then...Andrew Cuomo, giving a war-time address, send us forth: