Today is the last Sunday in this year’s liturgical calendar, but Advent doesn’t actually begin until next Sunday. Today, most churches will be focusing on Thanksgiving and some will have special services. Stores are packed with people, most of whom are not wearing masks and some of whom question people who do.
No one seems to be taking the warnings of public health officials seriously about the fact that endemic can be just as bad for us as pandemic. Granted, the death rates are not what they were in 2020, but the threat of what is being called the “tripledemic,” the confluence of Covid, flu, and RSV, should not be taken lightly.
We may be tired of hearing about Covid but we must still be careful, carrying small bottles of sanitizer with us to use, covering our noses and mouths when we sneeze, and keep up the hand washing. The public health emergency is still not over, and a little commonsense goes a long way.
Prayer for the Day
Lord, you know we are tired of hearing the same message,
And we want to go back to a more carefree time;
Lord, you know that we are all caught up in the holiday season
All kinds of masking rules are being dropped;
Guide us, O Holy One, so we keep those we love safe from harm.
And grant that we may have patience and concern for others.
In the name of the One who is our guide,
Even Christ Jesus our Lord, Amen.
Thoughts for the Day
As a result of this COVID-19 malaise, we remain vulnerable to infection, due to either unvaccinated or under-vaccinated people, waning immunity after vaccination and the potential rise of variants that can escape existing immunity provided by the vaccines, previous infection or both.
- Eddy Bresnitz, MD, public health physician
To do what nobody else will do in a way that nobody else can do, in spite of allw e go through, that is what it is to be a nurse.
- Rawsi Williams, nurse
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O Lord. At an acceptable time, O God,
In the abundance of your steadfast love, answer me,
With your faithful help, rescue me from sinking in the mire;
let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters.
Psalm 69: 13-14