February 2020
“Dio è per noi un rifugio e una forza, un aiuto sempre pronto nelle difficoltà” (Salmo 46:1)
“God is our refuge and our strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalm 46:1)
These words from Psalm 46 have comforted us richly during this time of uncertainty and concern. With the outbreak of the Coronavirus in northern Italy, the rhythm of daily life has been disrupted in Milan. Of the 888 reported cases of infected persons in Italy and 21 deaths (as of February 28), the majority have been in Lombardy, the most populated region in the country and home to the city of Milan. All schools in the entire region - from kindergarten to university - have been mandatorily closed, as well as most museums, public facilities, and professional soccer games (a major source of revenue in Italy). Iain’s school is holding classes via internet. Likewise, all churches are restricted from holding public meetings.
The "ground zero" hospital for Milan, where most of the infected people are being treated and quarantined, is about 15 minutes from where we live. There are also some smaller cities in Lombardy outside of Milan that are on complete lockdown, meaning no one is permitted at this time to enter or leave. Grocery stores have remained open, but have had trouble keeping some products in stock, such as bottled water, chicken, coffee, toilet paper, and (you guessed it) pasta.
It is worth noting that the 21 people who have died were all elderly and believed to have had previous health problems. At least 46 people who were infected have since recovered and subsequently tested negative. Moreover, it seems that more people die every year from the regular flu than the coronavirus. Although the illness is extremely contagious and the threat is real, perhaps more concerning is the panic and fear that has been generated. In the first several days of the outbreak, supermarkets became chaotic and unruly, even giving way to fistfights at times. It is not uncommon to hear racial slurs and words of anger directed at Chinese people, due to the fact that two Chinese tourists were the first to contract the virus and bring it to Italy. Furthermore, the already fragile Italian economy is taking a major hit from the outbreak. Tourism, upon which many cities in Italy depend heavily, is way down, and many restaurants and businesses are closed. The cancellation of Carnivale in Venice, for example, is a devastating blow to the livelihoods of many.
What this means for our church. Because the government has restricted all churches from holding public meetings in the interest of containing the outbreak, we, out of love for our neighbor, are complying with those restrictions. This means, unfortunately, that we have had to cancel our English-class outreach on Wednesday as well as our Friday evening meeting. This Sunday, I will preach from home via internet so that most should be able to receive the Word. It is not ideal, but it is better than nothing. We hope that the restrictions will be lifted in the coming week and that we are able to meet publicly for worship by March 8.
The good news is that all of us (for now) are healthy and well supplied with food and water. The congregation, especially its leaders, are doing a great job of communicating with and checking on one another. As a pastor, my concern is to comfort the people of God with the gospel and remind them of our security in Christ. Viruses, diseases, natural disasters, and wars are all common to this fallen world. But Jesus Christ remains the same yesterday, today, and forever. We pray that the Lord will use this ordeal in northern Italy for his glory and the advancement of the gospel, especially as many in Milan think about the brevity of life. Please pray that the hopeless will find the hope of eternal life in the person and work of Christ. Pray that our congregation will be a good witness to the world through our love for our neighbors. And pray that we stay healthy!
For the gospel,
Pastor Mike Brown
