Prioritize our Christian values

Christians know that Christ always showed compassion to the poor and the needy. He united himself with them when he said, “Whatever you did to the least brothers of mine, you did to me.” In this time of a pandemic, the most vulnerable include the sick, the elderly, the home-bound, those with underlying health conditions, the unemployed, the uninsured, and many others. Hospitalization for COVID-19 can bankrupt a family, rendering them the least of our brothers and sisters.

We need to prioritize our Christian values over the prevailing social discourse that segments people into parties, camps and ideologies. Unity is not uniformity! Unity is working to preserve the health of all. We should all be united in not just fighting the virus but in working to preserve the health of all.

As Pope John Paul II said, this interdependence “is not a feeling of vague compassion or shallow distress at the misfortunes of so many people, both near and far. On the contrary, it is a firm and persevering determination to commit oneself to the common good; that is to say to the good of all and of each individual, because we are all really responsible for all.” (Sollicitudo Rei Socialis 38)

In this time of pandemic we show our compassion for all people today by wearing a face mask, practicing social distancing and proper hygiene to protect the least of our brothers and sisters. And so we protect all of Christ’s brothers and sisters.

Pat Bradley

Spokane