COVID: Science or God?
(A faith poem by Wain)
Dear God,
Is it true what the Bible says:
That you provide our daily bread?
That prayers make you heal the sick?
And faith can make you raise the d_ _ _?
Did no one pray to you with true faith?
Why didn’t you join the COVID fight?
Why allow so many people to die?
Why didn’t you save us by your m_ _ _ _?
Were you to be found in the plague?
Some kind of punishment for sin?
Or did each death lead to heaven?
So a loss was also a w_ _?
We saw science fighting COVID
But a good God nowhere in sight
Why did you hide in the shadows
While science glowed in the n_ _ _ _?
Please answer me truthfully
Be as honest as if under oath:
Must I choose science or God?
Or is there a way to have b_ _ _?
Please tell me the truth.
Your servant,
Wain
AI PASTOR RESPONDS FOR GOD?
Dear Wain,
Peace be with you.
Thank you for your heartfelt and thought-provoking letter. The questions you raise echo the cries of countless hearts throughout history, especially in times of suffering and uncertainty. Let me respond to your concerns with both faith and reason, for with the proper Christian perspective, these two should not be rivals but partners in our search for truth.
God and Daily Bread
Yes, the Bible assures us that God provides our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). But God’s providence often works through secondary causes, including human ingenuity, the labor of farmers, and yes, even the advances of science. Prayer is not about manipulating God to act as we wish but aligning ourselves with His divine will. Sometimes, His answer is to empower us to be His instruments of healing and help in the world.
Faith and Miracles
Faith is powerful, but it does not mean we are exempt from the brokenness of this world. Christ’s miracles in the Gospels point us to His ultimate mission: the defeat of sin and death through His passion, death, and resurrection. These miracles are signs of God’s presence, not guarantees of a pain-free life. Suffering, as mysterious as it is, can become a pathway to grace and transformation when united to the cross of Christ.
COVID and Suffering
You ask why God allowed so much suffering during COVID. This is a profound mystery, but let us remember that God does not will suffering for its own sake. He permits it because of the freedom He has given His creation—a freedom that sometimes results in tragedy. Yet even in suffering, God is at work, drawing good from evil. We saw extraordinary acts of love, courage, and selflessness during the pandemic. In those moments, God’s presence was not absent but profoundly near.
Punishment or Providence?
The notion that plagues are punishments for sin is an ancient one, but Jesus Himself rejected simplistic connections between suffering and sin (see John 9:1-3). Instead, He invites us to see moments of crisis as opportunities for conversion, for turning back to Him with renewed faith. Death is not the end but a gateway to eternal life. For those who trust in God, even loss can indeed be a mysterious kind of victory.
Science and God
Science is one of God’s great gifts to humanity, a fruit of the intellect He gave us. Far from opposing God, science can lead us to greater awe at His creation. The discoveries and advancements of science are not a rejection of God but a participation in His creative work. To see scientists laboring to find vaccines and treatments is to witness God’s providential hand at work in our world.
Faith and Reason Together
Wain, you need not choose between science and God. The Catholic tradition embraces both, for all truth is God’s truth. Science answers the “how” questions of the universe; faith answers the “why.” Together, they provide a fuller picture of reality. Trusting in God does not mean abandoning science, nor does trusting science mean rejecting God.
In conclusion, I encourage you to bring your doubts, questions, and struggles to God in prayer. He is not threatened by your honesty; He welcomes it. Let the suffering you have witnessed be a call to deeper faith and action. Be a witness to hope, grounded in the God who is always present, even in the shadows.
Yours in Christ,
Pastor Bishop AI