COVID-19: forcing us to rethink about principles, values and shared humanity |16 March 2020
COVID-19/Coronavirus is reminding the world that we are one and we are interconnected. This pandemic has forced us to requestion our ‘principles, values and shared humanity’. Blaming each other is not the solution and no one has asked to be sick. This pandemic is a lesson for mankind as it will teach each and everyone of us to show compassion and selflessness.
As most of us are believers, I tried to gather some prayers from different religions for us to remember that we have to be united in this combat and around the world we are already witnessing this solidarity. Where schools are closed, parents are offering their services to tutor children online, prayers are being organised online to support each other and everyday in Italy people are coming on their balcony to sing and praise God.
To bring solace to our hearts, please find below some holy words from different religions:
Christian Prayers
Heavenly Father, I call on you right now in a special way.
It is through your power that I was created. Every breath I take, every morning I wake, and every moment of every hour, I live under your power.
Father, I ask you now to touch me with that same power. For if you created me from nothing, you can certainly recreate me. Fill me with the healing power of your spirit. Cast out anything that should not be in me. Mend what is broken. Root out any unproductive cells. Open any blocked arteries or veins and rebuild any damaged areas.
Remove all inflammation and cleanse any infection. Let warmth of your healing love pass through my body to make new any unhealthy areas so that my body will function the way you created it to function.
And Father, restore me to full health in mind and body so that I may serve you the rest of my life.
I ask this through Christ our Lord.
A Prayer for Hope
Heavenly father, I am your humble servant, I come before you today in need of hope.
There are times when I feel helpless, There are times when I feel weak.
I pray for hope. I need hope for a better future. I need hope for a better life. I need hope for love and kindness.
Some say that the sky is at its darkest just before the light. I pray that this is true, for all seems dark. I need your light, Lord, in every way. I pray to be filled with your light from head to toe. To bask in your glory. To know that all is right in the world, as you have planned, and as you want it to be.
Help me to walk in your light, and live my life in faith and glory.
In your name I pray, Amen.
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The Church of England
For those caught up in tragedy and disaster
O Lord our God, source of all goodness and love, accept the fervent prayers of your people; in the multitude of your mercies look with compassion upon all who turn to you for help; for you are gracious, O lover of souls, and to you we give glory, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, now and for ever.
For dealing with a difficult situation
Sovereign God, the defence of those who trust in you and the strength of those who suffer: look with mercy on our affliction and deliver us through our mighty Saviour Jesus Christ.
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Bahá’í prayers
Healing
Thy name is my healing, O my God, and remembrance of Thee is my remedy. Nearness to Thee is my hope, and love for Thee is my companion. Thy mercy to me is my healing and my succor in both this world and the world to come. Thou, verily, art the All-Bountiful, the All-Knowing, the All-Wise.
Bahá’u’lláh
Protection
Say: God sufficeth unto me; He is the One Who holdeth in His grasp the kingdom of all things. Through the power of His hosts of heaven and earth and whatever lieth between them, He protecteth whomsoever among His servants He willeth. God, in truth, keepeth watch over all things.
Immeasurably exalted art Thou, O Lord! Protect us from what lieth in front of us and behind us, above our heads, on our right, on our left, below our feet and every other side to which we are exposed. Verily, Thy protection over all things is unfailing.
The Báb
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Some Buddhist quotes
“I believe that to meet the challenge of our times, human beings will have to develop a greater sense of universal responsibility. We must all learn to work not just for our own self, family, or nation, but for the benefit of all humankind. Universal responsibility is the key to human survival. It is the best foundation for world peace, the equitable use of natural resources, and through concern for future generations, the proper care of the environment” – His Holiness the Dalai Lama
“We reverently pray for eternal harmony in the universe.
May the weather be seasonable, may the harvest be fruitful, may countries exist in harmony, and may all people enjoy happiness” – Buddhist Prayer
Hindu prayers
“Shubham karoti kalyaanam aarogyam dhana sampadaa, shatru buddhir vinaashaaya dipa jyotir namostute” - I salute the One who is the lamplight that brings auspiciousness, prosperity, good health, abundance of wealth, and the destruction of the intellect’s enemy (ignorance).
Prayer for Universal Peace
“Sarve bhavantu sukhinah, Sarve santu nirāmayāh; Sarve bhadrāni paśyantu, Mā kaśchid duhkha bhāga bhavet” – May everybody be happy. May everybody be free from disease. May everybody have good luck. May none fall on evil days.”
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Islam prayers
Surah 1
Bismillaah ar-Rahman ar-Raheem
Al hamdu lillaahi rabbil ‘alameen
Ar-Rahman ar-Raheem Maaliki yaumid Deen
Iyyaaka na’abudu wa iyyaaka nasta’een
Ihdinas siraatal mustaqeem
Siraatal ladheena an ‘amta’ alaihim
Ghairil maghduubi’ alaihim waladaaleen
Aameen
“In the name of God, the infinitely Compassionate and Merciful.
Praise be to God, Lord of all the worlds.
The Compassionate, the Merciful. Ruler on the Day of Reckoning.
You alone do we worship, and You alone do we ask for help.
Guide us on the straight path, the path of those who have received your grace; not the path of those who have brought down wrath, nor of those who wander astray.”
Prayer for Healing
“Get rid of the hardship and heal, O Lord of the People, you are the Healer, and there is no healing of disease like Yours. Let it be healing that is not betrayed by sickness.”
- Prophet Muhammad
Compiled by Vidya Gappy