Moses Lee had a very insightful article on how Christians responded to plague and epidemic in history. We often think that the things which we are going through are unique to our time and place, but the truth is there have been many instances of plague and epidemic in history – and the Church has played an important role in both the treatment and recovery phases. I would encourage you to read the article. Perhaps it will stimulate some ideas for how we can love our neighbour during this time as well as in the aftermath. God will use us! Let’s be ready!!
Lee reminds us of a very interesting excerpt from a letter written by the Emperor Julian in AD 362 citing the difference in compassion between the Christians (he calls them “Galilaeans”) and the non-Christians “Hellenists.” He notes the Christians’ “benevolence to strangers, their care for the graves of the dead, and the pretended holiness of their lives.” In another place he notes, “For it is a disgrace that . . . the impious Galilaeans [Christians] support not only their own poor but ours as well.”
During a plague in the mid-3rd century in Alexandria, Dionysius, a bishop, writes “Most of our brother-Christians showed unbounded love and loyalty, never sparing themselves and thinking only of one another. Heedless of the danger, they took charge of the sick, attending to their every need and ministering to them in Christ, and with them departed this life serenely happy; for they were infected by others with the disease, drawing on themselves the sickness of their neighbours and cheerfully accepting their pains.”
You can imagine how impactful this was to the non-Christians who were watching; most of them interested only in self-protection and self-preservation. But these Christians went above and beyond to show love in desperate times, and they did it with joy!
Of course, we know much more today about germ theory and how diseases spread than they did in the mid-3rd century. But are there ways that we can show compassion and love to those in need in our own day of plague? There are many Christians among the large number of medical workers and carers who are giving of themselves to help others. If you are in that number, well done! What an opportunity to show the love of God and, at the same time, to consider opportunities to speak to people’s spiritual need as well out of the deep reservoir of peace that God offers you.
Again, I’d encourage the full article.