One of the things that struck me as soon as the cancellations began pouring in during the coronavirus crisis was the loss of church services. This is especially devastating with Holy Week and Easter approaching. As you read this, you’re likely in the midst of what would be the Triduum of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and the Easter Vigil, all leading up to the celebration of the joyous resurrection of Jesus on Easter Sunday.
Except we will have to celebrate within the confines of our homes. Certainly, some churches are doing online services, and some masses are on television, but it’s not quite the same, is it? For many people, a church service is not only a chance to get in touch with God, but with many others who share that faith. It doesn’t feel quite the same sitting in your living room as it does in a pew.
We know that God is all around us and understands the extenuating circumstances of these dire times. Still, I was talking to a friend recently, and he was worried about his elderly mother. Church services have always been important to her, and she was struggling with not being able to attend. He was worried that this could be her last Easter, a time of year that was very important to her. However, she knew it was best for everyone, even if some minister down in Florida didn’t and went ahead with massive gatherings.
Holy Week is probably my favorite time of the liturgical year. From Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday, I’ve always especially enjoyed the music, and I will miss playing it for our congregation this year, though I suppose I can still entertain my family. From “The King of Glory” on Palm Sunday to “Were You There” on Good Friday to “Jesus Christ Is Risen Today” on Easter Sunday, these are some of my favorite hymns, and I often only get to play them once or twice a year. With masses cancelled through the middle of May, that number will likely be zero this year.
I’ve read some speculation that some people think this virus is God’s way of getting our attention, that maybe our lifestyles are not up to snuff in His eyes. I’m not sure how I feel about all that; it feels very Old Testament with floods and plagues. Either way, I don’t think we’ll return to life as we knew it, at least not completely. My mom told me she doesn’t think we’ll ever shake hands during the Sign of Peace in church again, and the idea of a shared cup during the Eucharist will need to be rethought (though that probably should have been looked at a long time ago).
We do need to take time to celebrate though. Everyone is suffering in some way during this epic event, some more than others, but if you are a religious person, you will recognize the significance of celebrating Holy Week. Whether that’s watching a service or singing some hymns or praying, we should still take part in the death and resurrection of Jesus. I’m going to guess there are more prayers than usual being said these days, but hopefully, the Lord will find a way to guide us through all this and back to the ability to celebrate the Word of God as a community.
Who knows? Maybe some people will discover, or rediscover, religion. Times like this can be known as a “Come to Jesus” moment. Do you place your trust in God? Are you able to say, “Your will be done,” even if you’re not led down a path you would have chosen? These are all personal questions, but important ones to think about. You might struggle with your beliefs during difficult times, but you are not alone in that.
That’s a big reason I look forward to being back together with my church family. There are times that just sitting in church, surrounded by others who believe, is enough to set my mind right during a tough time. Just like family and friends, church communities thrive when they are together and able to support one another.
Even if you are not a religious person, are you able to find any silver linings during hard times? Can you find joy in small things? Maybe while being quarantined, you’ve gotten closer to your family. Perhaps you’ve read a book you didn’t have time for before. Board games might have been taken off shelves and had the dust blown off before giving pleasure to your family for the first time in years.
And when this too shall pass? Will you stay close to your family? Will you find another book to read? Will you still play some games? Or will you just want to go back to the way it was? Our comfort level has been disrupted in a big way, but this might be a good time to make changes. After all, the Lenten season has always been about making those changes and creating a better self in Jesus’ name.
I wish you all a blessed Easter season. It sure won’t be what we had hoped it would be, but that doesn’t mean that God is not still with us.
Word of the Week: This week’s word is pleniloquence, which means excessive talking, as in, “The pastor missed the pleniloquence that accompanied Easter service when the crowd was always larger than usual.” Impress your friends and confuse your enemies!