Lethargy

The people spoke against God and against Moses “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? For there is no food an no water and we detest this miserable food” (Num. 21:5).

            Whenever I arrive at a new Parish assignment, I always feel a rush of energy. There are: new people to meet; new things to learn; and new chances to contribute something to the Parish. There is a freshness about the situation which gives me energy. As time goes by, (regardless of the assignment) things start to become routine. Problems arise which I had not anticipated. Soon, everything becomes a grind and it requires a lot of energy just to keep going. The freshness and enthusiasm I once had is gone. One thing I have learned from these experiences is it often takes something dramatic to jolt me out of my lethargy.

            In today’s passage from Numbers, the people grumble “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this wilderness?” By doing so, they reveal how quickly they have forgotten all the things God had recently done for them and succumbed to lethargy.

            Throughout the Exodus Story, God demonstrated repeatedly his concern for the Israelites. Their liberation from slavery in Egypt was the result of the Miracles God worked through Moses. When the Egyptian Army trapped them by the Red Sea, God parted the waters and enabled their escape. After the people complained about the lack of meat for food, God sent large numbers of quail which they caught and ate. At Meribah, when the Israelites grumbled about a lack of water for themselves and their flocks, God met their needs when Moses struck the rock with his staff. However, despite these signs of Divine Providence, the routine and hardships caused by their trip across the desert dissipated the energy and freshness they likely felt when they first left Egypt. It led to rebellions and complaints similar to the one in today’s passage which were directed at God and demonstrated their short memories. God’s reaction, the poisonous serpents, jolted the people out of their lethargy. They recognized their lack of trust in God was a Sin and repented. In return, God provided some relief: anyone bitten by a serpent and who gazed at the bronze serpent on the pole was saved. Yet, the presence of the serpents (God never killed them) was a reminder to the people lethargy and complacency were problems which required constant attention.

            During this Covid 19 Pandemic, lethargy has become a real challenge for many people. In the first few days, they adjusted to the disruptions which resulted from the need for self-isolation and closing of non-essential Businesses. With extra time on their hands, some started their Spring Cleaning or did chores around the house they had been postponing for a while. Others watched a lot of television or Netflix. As time passed, things changed as they became restless being cooped up in the house. Whatever energy they had with all this extra time was gone. They started going to the store for non-essential items and visiting family or friends despite the warning from Public Health Officials against doing so. Then, they would be jolted out of their lethargy. Someone they knew was admitted to Hospital because of the Virus. The number of Covid 19 Cases and Deaths in the province or city increased dramatically. All of a sudden. the Pandemic became real for them in a way it wasn’t previously.

            Medical Experts tell us our present situation is going to continue for a while. The number of people who get the Virus or die from it will likely continue to rise. School closures have been extended. States of Emergency will not end as soon as was hoped. They are now talking in terms of months or years before things get better. Catholics and all people of Faith know the challenges of maintaining the energy and freshness in their Spiritual Life. Praying can just become saying the words. In Confession, the same sins get repeated again and again. Charitable actions are seen as a duty. It is so easy to become complacent. As the Israelites discovered, every once in a while God jolts us out of our lethargy and complacency through some harsh experience. Perhaps Covid 19 is for us what the poisonous serpents were for them: a wake-up call.

            As people of Faith, we have hopefully developed the discipline to recognize when we are becoming lethargic and complacent in different parts of our life. This discipline will then give us the energy and freshness to serve others at a time when it could save them and our Faith Life.

March 31, 2020