Let devotion be your guide – Dean Gibson

Use faith to conquer the fear generated by the crisis of the New Coronavirus pandemic, is the advice coming from The Very Rev’d Jeffrey D. Gibson, dean of the cathedral Church of At Michael and all Angels.

In his holy week message Dean Gibson said that the worldwide crisis caused the COVID-19 pandemic presents an opportunity for Barbadians to restore the faith in God as held by their fore parents.

Asserting that citizens of the island will eventually emerge from this catastrophe, he said the current response of Barbadians suggests their uncertain approach to faith, which differs from the strong belief of their ancestors.

Following is the full text Rev’d Jeffrey Gibson’s message:

“Say to those with fearful hearts, be strong, do not fear ….” Isaiah 35:4

As we observe Holy Week 2020, a dark cloud of anguish and despair hangs over Barbados and the entire world. For present generations of Barbadians, the intrusion of the novel coronavirus has made Holy Week 2020 the most unusual in living memory. Our country is under a 24-hour curfew. The majority of the population is confined to their homes. Most businesses and government offices are closed. So too are all churches. Traditional Palm Sunday, Good Friday and Easter services have had to be called off.

What was usual in our day-to-day experience has suddenly given way to the unusual. However, these stringent measures are necessary. They were introduced to contain the spread of this highly contagious illness which has already claimed thousands of lives. Barbadians, understandably, are fearful and anxious. Never before in our lifetime have we traversed this path. Humanity finds comfort and security in what is familiar.

COVID-19 has taken us into unfamiliar territory. Sudden change is always traumatic. Our country has been plunged into deep crisis almost overnight. Our economy which was showing encouraging signs of recovery, has gone into a tailspin. Countless businesses and jobs are in jeopardy. The future is filled with uncertainty.

In times of great challenge and adversity throughout our history, Barbadians have always looked to the Cathedral Church of St Michael and All Angels for spiritual guidance and theological interpretation. The distinguished line of my predecessors never hesitated to offer their perspectives. It is in recognition of the central role which the Cathedral has traditionally played in the life of our nation, that I bring you this message of reassurance and hope.

Fear is a normal human reaction to the crises. Fear, however, can have the negative effect of compounding instead of solving the particular problem. Panic and despair are spin-offs of fear. When we experience this kind of emotional turbulence, we render ourselves incapable of clearly thinking through the matter which is required for effective problem-solving. Staying calm is a more appropriate response but that is easier said than done.

Holy Scripture devotes considerable attention to the negative impact of fear. Indeed, it is significant that God and his human agents, speaking in the Old and New Testaments, repeatedly exhort us not to be fearful in the face of challenge and adversity. I have not done a count myself but the Internet suggests the exhortation “Be not afraid” appears 365 times in the Bible. That makes it one exhortation for every day of the year!

Faith is the perfect antidote to fear. Faith is rooted in an acknowledgement that we are not in control and that our destiny, ultimately, is in God’s hands. Faith speaks to a complete reliance on God instead of ourselves to successfully journey through this life. Faith calls for humility before God, the Great Creator of the Universe. Most importantly, faith empowers us to remain calm during the storms of life.

David, the lowly shepherd boy who became ancient Israel’s greatest king, was a man of great faith. In that much-loved Psalm 23, the authorship of which is attributed to David, we find a powerful affirmation of faith. “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil for You are with me.”

Humanity’s tragic experience with COVID-19 is comparable with walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

The question is, how many of us, in this increasingly godless age, can confidently declare, like David, “I will fear no evil for you are with me”. Our response to this crisis suggests we have become a people of faltering faith in sharp contrast with our fore parents. This crisis presents us with an opportunity for us to rediscover, renew and reaffirm the strong faith of our fore parents.

Barbadians are meant to be a people of faith. The second verse of our National Anthem speaks to the central role which faith has historically played in our national experience. “The Lord has been the people’s guide for past 300 years. With Him still on the people’s side, we have no doubts or fears.” These words are a powerful statement of faith.

At the Cathedral, we have been devoting considerable attention to reinforcing faith in the context of modernizing our Christian ministry. We recognize that Barbadian society has undergone fundamental changes — some good, some bad — in the last 30 or so years. The Cathedral is seeking, through innovative approaches, to ensure continued relevance of the ancient Word in a 21st Century Barbados.

Faith today cannot be confined to mere expression in words during worship. It has to be practically demonstrated through meaningful action which has a positive impact on the wider society. In this regard, the mission and work of the three-year-old St Michael Centre for Faith and Action (SMCFA) will be crucial. An exciting addition to the Cathedral’s ministry, The St Michael Centre is a charitable think-tank devoted to investigating social problems, aiding the search for solutions, promoting public education and empowering the socially marginalized.

That the COVID-19 crisis coincides with Holy Week lends itself to theological interpretation. An important message is that faith in God always provides hope of better to come. Holy Week is a riveting story of ups and downs in the final week of Jesus’ earthly ministry — from his triumphant entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday, to his crucifixion on Good Friday, to the ultimate triumph of his glorious resurrection on Easter Sunday.

Just as the glory of Easter inevitably follows the anguish of Good Friday, we too will eventually emerge triumphant from this crisis. Some commentators are predicting that life, post-COVID 19, will be fundamentally different from what it is now. By going back to fundamental principles of living, as articulated in the teachings of Christ, we can collectively work together to ensure that fundamentally different means fundamentally better.

COVID-19 has powerfully demonstrated that all human beings are equal. It has not discriminated. It has touched princes and commoners, rich and poor, black and white. COVID-19 is a crisis of humanity and the world. However, a crisis is an opportunity to be decisive. It is a time to choose.

In the midst of the significant loss of life, there is also an environmental crisis which must not be ignored. Interestingly enough, the air quality of some of the major cities of the world, as Dr Jennifer Little put it, “shows the clearest improvement ever seen in the modern times”. The coronavirus presents humanity with a moment to recognize our involvement in the environmental crisis and to choose to respect the diversity of the universe, pursuant of greater harmony with the rest of God’s creation.

Moreover, in the prophetic tradition, we have been reminded that there is no reason to be afraid because God is with us. Like rain is to a desert, so is faith in God to the believer at the crossroads (Isaiah 35). There is joy and vitality as our weak knees and faint spirits are strengthened from the water of life, as the universe is restored and life is renewed.

My prayer is that in the spirit of oneness, humanity will focus its energies to renew the divine gift of Creation where we all will be better together instead of poorer apart. May the Divine Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Spirit – renew our bodies and minds, reinforce our faith, and rekindle our hope so that we can meaningfully share in the experience of the risen Christ.

The Very Rev’d Jeffrey D. Gibson

“Being a Beacon of Christ’s Presence in the Community”