Day 128: “We were once fierce atheists”

DAY 128

Faith in the Midst of a Pandemic

A series of daily reflections for people of faith

by Rev. Robert Bayley, Interim Pastor

Patuxent Presbyterian Church, California, Maryland

pastorrobert@paxpres.org

Week Nineteen – Monday 20 July 2020

“We were once fierce atheists”

“When we follow Jesus…the Gospel becomes clear to everyone. This is what happened when a 75-year old Italian pastor with COVID-19 was admitted to a hospital in Lombardi, Italy. Though he was quite ill, he read the Bible to the dying. He held their hands. Even in his death, he was a messenger of hope. His physician, Dr. Julian Urban, described the impact this pastor had: ‘Despite having had over 120 deaths in three weeks, we were not destroyed. The pastor had managed, despite his condition and our difficulties, to bring us a peace that we no longer had hoped to find. We cannot believe that, though we were once fierce atheists, we are now daily in search of peace, asking the Lord to help us continue so that we can take care of the sick.’” - From a Christian medical journal

Rev. Richard Halvorson was pastor of Fourth Presbyterian Church in Bethesda, Maryland, when he was called to serve as chaplain of the United States Senate from 1981 until 1995. He composed a benediction he used for years that has gained traction around the English- speaking world. It illustrates the true story above.

You go nowhere by accident.

Wherever you go God is sending you.

Wherever you are, God has put you there.

God has a purpose in your being there.

Christ lives in you and has something he wants to do

through you where you are.

Believe this and go in the grace

and love and power of Jesus Christ. Amen.

If we believe this benediction conveys Scriptural truth, and I believe it does, then the story about the pastor and the atheistic doctors make sense: to be the light of the world as Christians – and Jesus has said that this is what we are – is to know that light shines brightest in deep darkness. While some would interpret a hospitalization leading to death through the lens of despair, this pastor saw everywhere and in everything opportunities to share Christ with others, resulting in  doctors now seeking to know and follow Jesus, leaving their atheism behind.

Reflective question: In what ways do you seek to be Jesus, Light of the world, in your world?

Reflective Scripture: Matthew 5:14 – “You are the light of the world.”

Reflective hymn:

“This Little Light of Mine” - Harry Dixon Loes (1892-1965)

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine;

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine;

This little light of mine, I’m going to let it shine,

Let it shine, let it shine, let it shine.