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Over the last several days, I’m sure many of you heard about the Blue Angels flying over some of America’s most popular cities, including New York, in an operation titled, America Strong.
America Strong is meant to encourage our nation’s healthcare workers, among others, who are fighting tirelessly on the front lines against Covid-19.
We’ve all seen images of these doctors and nurses working in hospitals that are overwhelmed with sick and dying patients. It’s like they’re stuck in a terrible dream, somewhere between life and death.
Although they’re being heroic, they’re also human. Like us, they need to be encouraged.
Hence operation America Strong.
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This surreal setting, feeling caught between life and death, is not much different than our first reading from the Acts of the Apostles.
We hear about the life of the early Church. People are coming to believe in Jesus by the thousands. A sign of life.
But these same Christians are also being persecuted for their faith; many are being killed.
Life was not easy, which is partly why the Apostles send Barnabas, whose name means, “son of encouragement,” to Antioch.
Although these Christians were strong, they were also human.
They needed encouragement.
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Are we any different?
Think not only about our healthcare workers, but also our children who were just informed they will not be returning to school this year in New Jersey.
Don’t they need to be encouraged?
Or college freshmen who are finishing their first year at home instead of on campus. Don’t they need to be encouraged?
Or parents and grandparents who sit at home in isolation. Don’t they need to be encouraged?
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Though we’re strong, we’re also human. We need encouragement.
In the spirit of Barnabas, the “son of encouragement,” think of at least one person whom you can encourage today with a phone call, a kind word, or a “social distance” hug.
Gestures of unity and kindness remind us, like those Blue Angels soaring in the sky, that America – and by extension, the Church – is strong.