My dear reader, how were you sifted during the pandemic?

When the pandemic broke out in early 2020, my heart became full of fear.  I am frightened of this invisible enemy lurking in the air that can take lives.  I became paranoid – I cleaned my house, scrubbed even the walls with Zonrox, and sprayed disinfectant regularly.  During the lockdown, I only go out once a month.  Yes, and that is to buy one month’s worth of groceries.  Everything that comes into the house, like groceries, deliveries, and me, has to be sanitized and disinfected. 
 
Living in isolation, my fears and precautions may have kept me safe.  But the news of people I knew falling victim to the virus shattered my sense of security.  The circle of those affected grew, from acquaintances, to colleagues, to my church community, to friends, and finally, to my own brother.  He was one of the fortunate ones who recovered, but there were many who didn’t. The pandemic’s reach was far and wide, leaving a trail of devastation in its wake.  

When the lockdown extended several times, a new emotion grew in my heart – anger.  Anger because of the injustices I saw:  families pushed to severe poverty because the breadwinner’s job was declared non-essential.  Frontline workers like doctors and nurses are pushed to the brim with minimal hazard pay and limited support.  Spending taxpayers’ money on questionable projects like the Dolomite Beach. Philhealth scam.  Pharmally scandal.  This is while I hear stories of siblings sharing one cell phone for their online classes and a mother crying because she doesn’t know where to obtain her family’s next meal.  

Amidst the fear and isolation that the pandemic brought,  I discovered a newfound strength in my faith. The daily online masses became my sanctuary, transforming my home into a church.  I also embraced the habit of praying the rosary every day, deepening my connection with God.  Attending online classes to strengthen my faith was another significant step in this journey.  

The Bible says, ‘Faith of itself, if it does not have works is dead’.  Prayer without works is dead.  Do you remember the Filipino saying “Nasa Diyos ang awa, nasa tao ang gawa?”.  As I deepened my connection with God through prayer during the pandemic, I felt a calling to do more. I involved myself in charity and volunteer works,  reaching out to the poor, the young, and the marginalized.  My contribution may have been small, but it was a step towards making a difference in the lives of others.   

This is how the pandemic has transformed me.  It turned my fear into faith, my isolation into prayer, and my anger into action.  In his book, Pope Francis argues that the pandemic has exposed the flaws and weaknesses in our societies, offering us a chance to build a more just and equitable world. I fervently hope that, like me, the pandemic has also transformed you, guiding you towards a future that is brighter and more inclusive for all.