Can fear prevent us from loving? St Francis of Assisi once feared lepers. But when he overcame his fear and embraced one, the stranger became a brother, and fear gave way to love. His encounter changed not only how he saw the leper but also how he encountered Christ.
My dear brothers and sisters, following the official report of an Ebola case in Nigeria, concern for our safety is understandable.
In today’s Gospel, Jesus places before us the heart of Christian life: love God with all our being and our neighbour as ourselves. But how do we love when uncertainty surrounds us? Jesus does not ask us to be careless with our lives or those of others. Observing health precautions, respecting physical distance and following official guidance can themselves become expressions of love. We protect our neighbours because their lives matter to God.
However, physical distance must never become distance of the heart. We can refrain from handshakes and still offer a smile, a prayer, a kind word and practical assistance. Perhaps the greatest danger is not only what threatens our bodies, but what fear might do to our hearts.
May God protect us, heal the sick, strengthen those who care for them, and teach us to love responsibly, courageously and without discrimination.
Fr. Kingsley Nze
Director of Pastoral Affairs
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