Never in the recent history the whole world has become so united as today and the credit goes to the invisible virus known as corona.There is not much to be proud of this universal solidarity because what unites the world is not predominantly the love for the other but the fear of the other. The fear about the unbeatable virus has led men to join hands in the fight against the pandemic and to bring in certain discipline in the social habitus. As it is depicted by one of the sarcastic stickers that was posted in WhatsApp on 14 April, not only the human beings but also the divine figures are frightened by the corona virus. In the picture we see Lord Krishna and Jesus standing inside of a campus and staring anxiously at the corona virus which make a victorious march on the road. The helplessness within which we all are now caught up must lead us to examine our present way of life and draw valuable lessons for future.

One of the positives is that many have begun to distinguish between the needs and luxury in life. Much of the activities we have been undertaking so far are now seen as non-essentials. How much money we were spending for recreational engagements? Usually in the post-Easter period, different sorts of celebrations related to baptism, marriage and jubilees should have consumed a large amount of time and energy of Christians. Similar festivities were also plenty among the Hindus and Muslims. And the pathetic side of the truth is that in spite of these gatherings people are not deprived of isolation and feeling of estrangement because most of such encounters don’t give space for heart to heart sharing; they were often virtual and artificial. After the corona season it would have been likely if we succeed in doing away with the non-essential merriments and invest that money in the service of poor and the downtrodden.

Another important prospect that has come up with the advent of corona is the chance to think about the role of religious rituals.Virulent claims and accusations regarding the pertinence of belief systems are alive in the social media. While the liberal thinkers question the very significance of religious services and customs, the fervent soldiers of religion defend against them by enumerating a list of good things religions still do for the well-being of society. To examine the validity of these arguments is not of our interest here. However,it is to be noted that the institutionalized religions have not lost their space in human life. They have only modified their way of functioning; they reach up to the devotees through different channels of media. In fact, the difficulty in conducting publically the religious services in their strict forms should have inspired the faithful to journey into the essentials of religious worship.

The religious ceremonies and traditions are not end in themselves. They are meant to help the individual to get rid of the selfishness, to love the brethren and thus to be in union with God. But in a country like India, people often miss the goal. To them, religions function as identity builders i.e. as agents that help people to affirm their place in a society, and at certain occasions,as instruments to bargain for economic and political power. The over play of devotions, prayers, conventions, ascetic deeds, etc. refrain people from living the religion authentically. Too many rituals give them the impression that they have done their duties towards God and the society. The laws and rites are only paths towards living the tenets of the gospel like love, peace, solidarity, forgiveness, compassion, truth, justice, fraternity, equality, respect, etc.The corona period is the time to regain the balance between practising the rituals and living the Jesus’ values. Let us remember what the pope Benedict XVI wrote in Porta Fidei: ‘ to live faith is to stand by the side of Jesus through a transformed life’ (no: 10).

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