The past week has been a wild ride. Some states are going full steam ahead with opening up the economy against the caution that too much too soon will only make things worse. Crazy and deadly comments (sarcastic or not) were made about injecting disinfectants to get rid of Covid-19. Protests are happening against stay at home orders. After a few weeks of staying at home, we are all getting a serious case of cabin fever and as Spring is blooming the fever is only going to get worse. We want to get back to what life used to be like: full bars and restaurants, sports stadiums filled with cheering fans, hanging out with friends and hair cuts. There are a few voices that are saying we should just let the Covid-19 chips fall where they may and if it means some folks die as a result that is better than letting the economy tank. I personally don’t want to believe that we have become that callous, lacking empathy to place money over the value of life. We might want to hope for a return to what used to be but Covid-19 has happened and the future will be different as social distancing and face masks will be in that future.
The reading for this Sunday out of Luke has two people walking and talking about the events of the past couple days. They had hoped…they had hoped that a prophet mighty in word and deed…Jesus of Nazareth would redeem Israel. However their hope had been betrayed by the religious leaders who handed Jesus over to be crucified. Women carried the news of an empty tomb and angels announcing Jesus was alive, the tomb was empty with no Jesus to be seen. Hopes were reignited but were once again crushed because it was the third day – it was too late.
The risen Jesus joined them but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. Despair can do that to us. We become so focused on what is bad that we can’t see the good. We become so focused on the unfilled hopes of the past that we can’t see a new future coming into reality. When Jesus joined them at the table and in the blessing and breaking of the bread their eyes were opened, Jesus disappeared from their presence. Suddenly eyes focused on unfulfilled hopes were able to recognize a resurrection future. They ran off to tell others that Jesus was indeed risen and that in the breaking of the bread he and a new hope filled future was revealed to them.
These days we’re hoping to bring back the past. Our eyes and focus are on what used to be and our frustrations are the result. There is another reality that invites us to look and see the risen Christ joining us in these days. The resurrection reveals a new creation (where the death and despair that the likes of Covid -19 bring are no more) that is becoming in Christ and this is our new hope.
This new hope is not for the past nor letting chips fall where they may, but focused on life for the future. Frustrated because we still must struggle with Covid-19 while hoping for what is to be in Christ? Absolutely! So we wear the masks and practice our social distancing because they are defiant acts against Covid-19 and what it represents. So we protest not to bring back the past but appeal for Christ to bring the future to completion. Our new vision is for what brings life to our neighbor and world that God so dearly loves.
This new vision is not easy to stay focused on but in breaking of the bread – Holy Communion – we declare a holy love so great that Jesus Christ would die for us. His resurrection is our life and future. This holy love lived out in Christ is our hope instead of despair.
Peace.
What does it all mean... 