With a viral pandemic spreading across the globe and stay at home orders in place as our state and national authorities work to address COVID-19, we are all preparing for an unusual Easter. This year we celebrate our risen Lord separately in our own homes, without gathering together with our local church body and without welcoming family and friends into our homes. While it is true that it could be worse, and we are grateful that it is not, the sense of loss that we feel as we navigate Holy Week while sheltering in place is a real cause for grief. But even as our celebrations take on a quieter and lonelier tone, our reason for celebration remains unshaken.
The COVID-19 outbreak has been a source of suffering, in one degree or another, for everyone, whether that be job loss, sickness, anxiety for an at-risk loved one, anxiety over being at-risk oneself, the strain of social isolation, or some combination of the above. The loss of our ability to gather is one that weighs especially heavily during Holy Week, when we would normally be coming together with our Christians brothers and sisters to remember, reflect on, and celebrate Jesus’ sacrifice and victory. This virus is causing us to feel deeply the reality that we live in a broken world and right now, this week, that reality is a reminder of our Savior’s sacrifice.
Many have pointed out the ironic fittingness of first social distancing and then sheltering in place during Lent, with Abby Johnson commenting recently, “This is the lentiest lent ever,” and Andy Crouch noting “[I] hadn’t planned on giving up this much for Lent.”
Lent is a time to reflect on what our Savior endured for our sake. He endured poverty, weakness, loss, and finally a cruel and unjust death on the cross that the wrath of God might be satisfied and death would be defeated. Many Christians fast from certain foods or activities during this time to remind themselves of that sacrifice. This year, without having planned to, we are all giving up activities, routines, and socialization. The losses that we feel right now are a reminder of the suffering that our Lord endured for our sake.
In him, we have in heaven a great high priest who is able to sympathize with our weakness, who endured suffering and temptation, but unlike us, endured without sin. Jesus lived a perfect life and offered up himself as the perfect sacrifice through our death, making it possible for us to be reconciled to God. This incredible truth is what we celebrate at Easter, regardless of what is going on in the world around us. Because of his death and resurrection, death is swallowed up in victory.
As many in our communities are dealing with fear of death right now, we have the opportunity to point them to the truth that death has been defeated. God is at work, and increasing numbers of Americans are expressing an openness to prayer and Scripture. Let’s make the most of this incredible evangelistic opportunity and boldly share our faith with our friends, neighbors, and family members who do not know the hope of the gospel.
Lent is coming to an end, and perhaps not in the way that we might have hoped. It is tragic to be unable to meet as a church body on Easter, but our reason for celebrating is not gone, even as we celebrate separately. The way that we celebrate during this time is a chance to point others to the joy that we have in Christ and his all-sufficient grace during times of hardship. As Lent comes to an end and we celebrate Easter, let us remember the reason for our hope and eagerly share that with the people around us.
