AFRICA - Covid-19 and the re-opening of churches in Africa: hope at the center of the mission

Tuesday, 19 May 2020 coronavirus   evangelization   mission   faith  

Kara (Agenzia Fides) - "The reality of closed churches has immersed many African Christians in the sad and painful experience of the sealed tomb, a symbol of despair and failure", writes Fr. Donald Zagore, SMA to Agenzia Fides. "Church doors are gradually opening and, despite the still active presence of the virus, Christians live in the immense joy of the open grave as a sign of resurrection and victory".
In the message sent to Fides, Fr. Zagore, Ivorian theologian of the Society for African Missions, says that "Covid-19 is certainly still present, but the Christian belief that it will be defeated against any anguish motivated by current realities remains alive. For Christians, evil, regardless of its virulence, will never have the last word. Triumph over evil is a guarantee. The certainty that God who does all new things (Revelation 21: 5) now becomes the project of life, the living source of all Christian hope".
Fr. Zagore urges "not to risk sinking into indifference and irresponsibility". With these concepts in mind, the Ivorian priest invites us to insist on compliance with the preventive measures established against Covid-19 in churches as a fundamental and vital imperative: "God gives victory, but human action and responsibility is necessary. As Saint Augustine says, God created us without us, but he cannot save us without us".
"Resurrection does not completely annihilate evil - concludes Fr. Zagore - but releases a light of hope that pierces the clouds of anguish in order to open a new era. With resurrection, we are no longer forced to become trapped in a fatal fate that would only confirm the absurdity of the present moment". (DZ/AP) (Agenzia Fides, 19/5/2020)


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