Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.
Each day we hear the rising number of Covid-19 deaths and infections across our country. While there are those who, perhaps, wish to avoid the news, it is difficult since news sources are inundated with the unsettling toll that this pandemic is taking.
The stories of those who have endured the heartache of losing a loved one to this virus are legion. In normal circumstances, as a loved one faces the reality of death, it is only natural that we surround them physically with our comforting presence. We reassure them that in this moment of leave-taking, they are not alone. We accompany them at this still-point moment in our earthly journey with the comforting assurance of our unfailing love and prayers.
The tragedy of Covid deaths is that invariably that human presence and touch is often missing for fear of contagion. We are left with iPhone or iPad encounters to offer our loved ones, comforting words of affection and farewell.
For people of faith, we believe that the Lord himself grieves with us as we bid farewell to those we love as the finality of deaths claims our loved ones. As Isaiah the Prophet reassures us today, it is the Lord himself who bids us to comfort others with his own loving presence in the midst of whatever hardship, challenge or trial that may be part of our human journey.
So often it is to doctors, nurses and medical personnel that the charge to comfort is given from the Lord of life and endless love in this challenging moment. They now become the Advent people who carry the promise of unending hope to those in the shadow of death.
Sisters and brothers, as we journey in this Season to the bright promise of thankful remembrance of the Lord’s birth, let us hold these front-line healers and comforters in our heart. May the Lord grant them strength and courage to not grow weary and to know that we hold them in grateful prayer.
Comfort, give comfort to my people,
says your God.