COVID punctured a hole in our veneer of invincibility. Who could have ever conceived of a worldwide pandemic in the twenty first century? Plagues were only something we read about in history books.
Ulrich Zwingli (1484-1531) was a stalwart of the Protestant Reformation. He came to Zurich, Switzerland to pastor a church in 1519. Seven months later, the bubonic plague (“black death”) decimated this seven-thousand-person Swiss town. One third of its residents perished in the pandemic. Ulrich was on vacation when the plague told hold. All who could afford to leave the city, including clergy, fled the scene. Ulrich returned as the lone pastor to care for the sick and dying. He contracted the disease and nearly died. He wrote a stunning twelve verse “plague hymn” during his nearly year-long convalescence. The first four stanzas were written when he became seriously ill:
In faith and hope,
Earth, I resign.
Secure with heaven,
For I am Thine.
The middle four stanzas were composed as his health deteriorated, and he faced the real prospect of death:
Death is at hand,
My sense fails.
My tongue is dumb,
Now Christ, prevail.
The last four stanzas were completed upon his recovery:
My God! My Lord!
Healed by Thy hand
Upon the earth,
Once more I stand.
Ulrich went forth to serve Christ as an effective preacher and passionate reformer. He was also known for his quick wit, lively sense of humor and considerable musical skills. He earns the right to lead us into prayer today: