Father Alexandre Kabera is a priest of the diocese of Kigali in Rwanda and a biblical scholar. On mission in Canada, he is a teaching assistant at Laval University in Quebec.
In this text, he gives his opinion as an African priest living in Canada on the American presidential election.
In the West, Christmas is a big celebration, an occasion for meetings with family and friends and above all for the exchange of gifts. This year, with the context of the covid 19 pandemic, the dating restrictions being severe, the best gift that Canadians will give themselves is health, by agreeing to stay at home. Fortunately in some in rights the vaccination against the covid has already started.
The vaccine announcement sounds like the Messiah’s
Christmas is the arrival of the Messiah. These days, the arrival of the vaccine in Canada is experienced as the arrival of the Messiah. It should be understood that in Quebec, until recently, there were more than 2,000 new cases of covid contamination per day.
The fact that the first people already had the vaccine is more than a glimmer at the end of the tunnel. It is like the star that guided the wise men to the place where was the Savior of the world who was just born in Bethlehemen Judea. But some countries like Australia have just banned this vaccine because of its harmful side effects. This is why despite the vaccine, the world will still need the Messiah.
Moral of the story; the world system is fragile.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the United States surpassed the 18 million coronavirus cases on Monday, December 21, with more than 319,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic. I have neither the right nor the competence to pass any judgment. But one thing is certain: this pandemic has shown the vulnerability of health systems even in so-called developed countries. Nature doing the right thing, Africa was less affected by this pandemic. However, this should not make us forget other causes of death such as malaria, famine, HIV AIDS, crime and others. Each people has its own set of problems. In addition, we must salute the courage of researchers and doctors who work tirelessly and especially the nursing staff who do everything to save lives, without forgetting anyone who helps others.
The storm to shake us up and push us to convert
Sometimes it has to have a strange if not dramatic event to force us to change. In his traditional Christmas greetings address to the Roman Curia on Monday December 21, Pope Francis invited us to look at the crisis in the light of the Gospel. For the Pope, “This scourge is a test and, at the same time, a great opportunity to convert ourselves and to rediscover authenticity”. As the crisis is also a time of grace, Pope Francis recalls Christian hope by quoting Saint Paul to the Corinthians: “God is faithful: he will not allow you to be tested beyond your strength. But with the trial he will give the means to come out and the strength to endure it ”(1 Co 10, 13).
With these words of hope, I wish everyone Merry Christmas and especially health.
Father Alexandre Kabera
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