Seven sacraments of the Coronavirus
with prayers for each.
1. Give Blood
I dwell in Christ, this is my blood given for you.
2. Wear Mask/Social Distance/Wash Hands
May this be a sign of my love for others.
3. Stay Home
Lord, let me be still and know that you are God.
4. Practice Compassion
Jesus, teach me to love as you love.
5. Create/Learn Something New
I open my heart to you, please work through me, O God.
6. Communicate
May my conversation be laced with your Holy Spirit.
7. Manage your Health
O God, I thank you for my health, guide me to be a good steward of my body.
This is my blood, given for you.
The Church looks to the life of Jesus Christ as a model for our sacramental life. Our seven Sacraments, the foremost being Baptism and Eucharist, are the outward and visible signs of inward and spiritual grace. Participating in the Sacraments helps us to live sacramental lives, recognizing God’s presence in the midst of our life.
My wife Laura, a registered critical care nurse, who works in an intensive care unit in Corpus Christi recently shared with me that they used convalescent plasma from New York. Can you believe that? Life-blood donated in New York was infused to help someone suffering here in the Coastal Bend. This is a grace filled occurrence!
It triggered my pastoral theological mind: Jesus said, “This is my blood given for you.” Giving blood for the sake of others is sacramental, her ICU story bears witness to the activity of Jesus. I miss our traditional Sacraments; particularly, the regular practice of worshipping together, and receiving communion, “The Gifts of God for the People of God.” Here, during this time we are apart, I humbly ask you to take on these seven sacraments--practices that support our community health, a way of loving God and loving your neighbor as yourself-- that with prayer they might become such outward and visible signs of Christ’s inward and spiritual grace.
Pastoral Reflection
Give Blood
This is where the conversation started; in the Eucharist, we recall Jesus' words, “This is my blood of the New Covenant, given for you.” It was at the Last Supper, when he commanded them to love one another, and washed their feet. He established a new way of being in community: one that emphasized love of one another instead of power over one another. Giving blood is a way to follow the teachings and life of Christ. Offer a prayer for the unknown person who will receive your blood, and give thanks for the nurses and staff who take your blood, and those who will administer it.
Wear a mask/Social Distance/Wash Hands
The commandments of Hebrew Scripture helped keep the tribe and nation alive and healthy. They were concerned with eating, relationships, and community ritual, and were given in love so that following them might sustain the life of God’s People. Today, these three things are for the health and life of the community. They are simple actions that help us slow the spread of the virus between one another. They are not convenient, but like practices we take on during Lent, they could be opportunities to remind us of our reliance on God alone. Offering a little prayer during these community health practices can sanctify them.
Stay Home
This one is a big challenge; it challenges our normal life patterns, strains our conventional social relationships, and even puts added pressure on our economic structures. It is a sacrifice, to be sure. It even means not going to church. Something I never expected I’d support as a priest of the church. Limiting our activity slows the spread of the virus. Creative alternatives can sustain our daily life, social relationships, and economic structures. Staying home with family or a select friend group (or pod) can lead to deepening our relationships.
Communicate
This one follows along with the above. It starts with communicating with God. With fewer outings, you may have an opportunity to start a daily prayer practice. Communication is also important regarding those in your family and friends who live alone, or may feel particularly isolated. You have been empowered by the Holy Spirit in baptism to do the ministry of Christ. Remember those in need, and call them, or use some of the great technology so you can see them.
Practice Compassion
During this time in particular, people have been experiencing a, “slow grinding of the spirit.” People are anxious with conflicting information, afraid of getting sick and dying, and uncertain about the political climate. Into a very similar situation God chose to put on flesh and be born. There was sickness beyond our modern understanding, Rome occupied Israel, and religious voices struggled to find a way forward. Jesus was born right into the midst of that mess, and revealed that the kingdom of God was at hand, right in the midst of it. He gave us the Holy Spirit to help us love one another. A practice of compassion can continue Jesus' work, and bring healing to our broken world.
Create
The Holy Trinity created the universe out of an abundance of love--we exist because of God’s creative love.Why not make something beautiful, or sorta lopsided, and participate in allowing God’s love to flow through you. Make bad art (or poetry or whatever.) Don’t try to make something good, just make something so-so. It moves the critical part of your mind out of the way, and helps to get the juices flowing. Share your creation with a couple of people (snap a photo of the best side, or the best line) text it and ask what they are creating. Creativity inspires creativity. It’s a holy endeavor.
Manage Your Health
I’ve been taught the importance of managing my own spiritual, mental, and physical health, so that I could be available for others. That’s one aspect of this sacrament. Another more serious one is that while this virus is present, our health care resources are more limited. That means if you have diabetes, or a heart condition, or anything else, the hospital space will be limited if your condition worsens. If not for you, then for others, please take care of every aspect of your health. Exercising, to whatever degree you are able, is an excellent way to take care of your body and mind. Drink plenty of water, and notice when you start to use food or alcohol to manage anxiety. Find alternatives so that you don’t start down an unhealthy path. Your body is a gift, and exercise is a wonderful way to say thank you to God, and show you love your family and friends (enough to be healthy and be there for them tomorrow.)
The commandments of Hebrew Scripture helped keep the tribe and nation alive and healthy. They were concerned with eating, relationships, and community ritual, and were given in love so that following them might sustain the life of God’s People. Today, these three things are for the health and life of the community. They are simple actions that help us slow the spread of the virus between one another. They are not convenient, but like practices we take on during Lent, they could be opportunities to remind us of our reliance on God alone. Offering a little prayer during these community health practices can sanctify them.
This one follows along with the above. It starts with communicating with God. With fewer outings, you may have an opportunity to start a daily prayer practice. Communication is also important regarding those in your family and friends who live alone, or may feel particularly isolated. You have been empowered by the Holy Spirit in baptism to do the ministry of Christ. Remember those in need, and call them, or use some of the great technology so you can see them. 
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