We have been trying to overcome the coronavirus for over a year with little success and rather than unifying us it has scattered us in our daily life. Keeping our distance from others and wearing masks has made the environment heavy, gloomy, given us mental fatigue and made us appreciate what has been lost.
Getting
together to pray and say Mass without any conditions was a great joy.
To meet to have a meal, to laugh and enjoy each other's company was an
important part of our life. To leave my quarters and to freely move
around to other parts of the world and cultures gave great joy and we
look back on those days with nostalgia.
The
corona virus is a contagious disease that is raging throughout the
world but somethings are not changing. The government and the Korea
Disease Control and Prevention Agency are daily trying to put an end to
the pandemic, the results are one of the most successful in the world.
However there are those in society who unconditionally are there to
undermine what is being done. The political opposition and part of the
media and others in society who are wedded to the past.They see the
government winning points from the citizens for their efforts to control
the contagion and search for ways to undermine the efforts with false
news to bolster their position.
The common good is according to Catholic teaching: the whole network of social conditions which enable human individuals and groups to flourish and live a fully, genuinely human life, otherwise described as integral human development. Solidarity is about valuing our fellow human beings and respecting who they are as individuals.
These
two principles need to be seen in our common battle against the virus.
This is no time to try to win points for our side at the expense of the
others who need our support in the common fight.
Recently
in buses, post offices, banks you see printed material with warnings to
the effect that any behavior that is disrespectful, bordering on the
violent towards the one who is serving can be punishable with a fine.
There is a lot of anger within society because of the virus and the
resulting consequences. This is one example of how lack of civility in
dealing with others appears in our daily life because of the virus.
It
is always easier to tear down than to build up. We are familiar with
these words. Criticism comes easier than words of praise. In our
society many do not see those who are hurting, the poor, the
marginalized who have a more difficult time than those who are well
established within society and are not bothered greatly with economic
worries.
