Thursday, December 16, 2021

There’s good news and bad news on the virus front.  The bad news is that the Omicron variant is spreading, hospitalizations are up, and the number of deaths has risen.  The good news is that the vaccination regimen provides a good measure of protection. 

Many public health officials point to the fact that the origin and spread of this variant is directly tied to the low vaccination rates in poor countries.  Variants will develop where people are not vaccinated.  The social justice issue of vaccine distribution is coming home to roost.  In other words, sharing is not just good morally also medically.

Remember that photo of the earth taken from space so many years ago?  It showed we are one world.  Our trust in God should extend to sharing what we have because unless we are all protected, none of us is really protected.  Sharing is more than just caring; it’s plain common sense.

Prayer for the Day

God of mercy who feeds us with your love,

    Break down the walls we build against others, 

Smooth our rocky hearts into round pebbles,

     As rocks are smoothed by the waves of the incoming tide.

Help us act as members of your household, sitting at your table

     And sharing in your gifts to us.

In the name of him who embraces us all,

     Even Christ Jesus our Lord. Amen

Thoughts for the Day

The situation we see right now is absolutely unacceptable because a large part of the world remains unvaccinated and this is a danger for all of us.

            Manmta Murthi, Vice-President, The World Bank

No vaccine should be left unused, our aim is to share surplus doses. We must work together to ensure that vaccine doses are shared as soon as possible.

            Erna Solberg, Prime Minister of Norway

You who live in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty,

   Will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God in whom I trust.”

For God will deliver you from the snare of the fowler and from the deadly pestilence;

  God will cover you with pinions, and under God’s wings you will find refuge;

            Psalm 91: 1-4