Martin Luther’s pastoral advice during the Black Plague seems very applicable to us today:
“I shall ask God mercifully to protect us. Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence. If God should take me, He will surely find me and I have done what He has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death of the death of others. If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above. See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash or foolhardy and does not tempt God.” [Martin Luther” Letter “Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague” written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.]
