Archbishop Gordon: Covid19 here to stay

RC Archbishop the Most Rev Jason Gordon says the public health and financial crisis brought on by the covid19 pandemic is not something the Caribbean region can flip a switch and move on from.

He was speaking on Sunday during a joint virtual mass on Zoom for the reconsecration of the Archdiocese of Port of Spain and the Diocese of Bridgetown to the Blessed Virgin Mary Mother’s Day.

“The Caribbean area has been plunged into a whole new reality where we are not going to be able to find an economic model like what we had in the last 50 years.”

With the price of oil in a slump and tourism travel grounded to a halt, Gordon said there is a period of terror and angst as many people do not know where they are going to find a way to sustain themselves economically, and those who are terrified about contracting covid19.

“As we look at all of this, there’s a great reason for fear and trepidation. What does Jesus say to us? Do not let your heart be troubled, trust in God still and trust in me.”

There are people, he said, who do not believe in God, but instead put all their faith in technology and science to solve everything.

Gordon said Thomas was his favourite apostle as he was the one who had to see everything to believe it. But, in unpredictable times where the solutions to many problems are nowhere in sight, trusting in Jesus is the answer.

“We have to reckon with the truth that is beyond everything in our finite imagination. Sometimes we believe that the doctors have the truth and the scientists have the truth, but Jesus is the truth. Jesus is the answer. That means there is a truth that’s bigger than our scientific truth and that truth is Jesus Christ.

“What Jesus is offering is not Heaven here on Earth. It is not going to be free from covid19. It’s not.”