DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF DISEASE
This month marks the five-year anniversary of when COVID-19 was declared a national emergency. Medical staff worked to bring comfort and healing to patients, while trying to remain healthy themselves. Surgical masks, gloves, plastic shields, hand sanitizers, disinfectant sprays, and all manner of remote, touchless, and telehealth tools were brought to bear in the crisis. In addition to the risk of getting sick, healthcare workers carried a psychological burden during the pandemic. Five years on, this still shows up in persistently elevated rates of burnout, anxiety, and more. Treating the physical symptoms of disease is one thing, but addressing the strain on the system is more difficult.
DEALING WITH THE IMPACT OF SIN
Today’s reading records God’s instructions for Aaron on the Day of Atonement. In addition to the sacrifices he needed to make for himself, his family, and the people; he also had to cleanse the tabernacle and holy place themselves. The sin and disorder of the Israelites lives could not be allowed to intrude into the sacred places, where God’s visible presence was carefully managed and kept apart.
Questions
- How do you show your appreciation to healthcare workers you know or encounter?
- What was your experience in the earliest days of COVID-19?
- If the holy places in the tabernacle were so separate, why do you think Aaron needed to make sacrifices to cleanse them?
