04/06/2020
Yesterday was Palm Sunday, and via a live broadcast, my pastor spoke of our Holy Week expectations this year in the face of the Coronavirus Pandemic. Then he went on to lay out our church’s online services this week, and how we would go about celebratIng each of them from our homes given the quarantine we find ourselves under. This is not to be a year like any other we have experienced, but though we are separated from one another, we are not separated from Jesus. This is the year we hit the reset button on our spirituality, and sift it, seeing it for what it should have always been... a deeply personal relationship.
“I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
John 15:5 ESV
Having to be apart from the “things of religion” that, for our entire lives, have represented our faith to us, is causing us to revisit what it means to be a believer, and a Christian. Suddenly we find that such things as taking communion are a challenge, and for some impossible, because there is no reverend, or priest, to bless them , and administer their celebration... then, as we worry over our inability to honor Christ in the way we are accustomed to, it dawns on us that we are all priests through Christ...
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.”
1 Peter 2:9 ESV
Jesus never made the process or ceremony of communion a stipulation of remembering him. Jesus made no mention of an ornately ceremonial taking of the wine, and the bread as offered by an authorized agent, to be communion, He simply described the symbolism, and told His disciples to remember Him whenever they ate bread and drank wine... this was meant to be a constant reminder of Him each time we broke bread, or drank wine.
So how do we take communion when locked in our homes alone or with family, and unable to go to church? We take the bread and wine, and after laying it before us we read Luke 22:14-20, then as we eat the bread, and drink the wine we remember Jesus just as He told His disciples to do.
“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, "I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God." And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, "Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes." And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, "This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.”
Luke 22:14-20 ESV
If we do this ourselves each time we eat bread, and drink wine, during our quarantine, then after a while that remembrance will become as it should be... automatic, and instantly on our minds each time we partake of them. Suddenly what once was a religious ceremony has become a “Constantly reoccurring event” just like we are told that prayer should be.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ESV
So what about the other “things of religion?” How are we to go about hearing the Word of God delivered in homily? How can we reach that moment of spiritual edification that we receive during sermons? Well, there are ways of listening to sermons, or masses, via the radio, television, or the internet, we can even worship Him privately through The singing of songs, Reading His Word, praising Him, and prostrating ourselves before Him in worship, or we can simply step onto our porch and thank Him in prayer and by lifting our arms to Him in worship as we see the rising, or setting, sun, and all the glory of His creation. There are so many ways in which we can receive edification... how many times have tears come to your eyes while reading scripture, witnessing God’s beauty, or holding someone You love? The Holy Spirit cries out from within us at moments such as these, And that is the essence of worship.
Then there is the blessing... How can we receive a blessing from the pastor or priest if we are not with them in church, and what about ashes on Ash Wednesday, Palm branches on Palm Sunday, foot washing on Maundy Thursday, the removal of all flowers and religious symbols except the cross on Good Friday, The silence of our vigil on Holy Saturday , the passion play, joy of an empty tomb, and the excitement of sunrise services on Easter Sunday? All of these are wonderful events that we can, and should, celebrate personally, and in our homes, or wherever we are. These are not Church happenings as much as they should have always been personal observances of faith that were highlighted by the Church.
“As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.”
1 Peter 2:4-5 ESV
Churches, and the community of saints are incredibly important to us as believers, but they are no substitute for our personal relationship with God, and Jesus Christ. If times like this, when we are unable to be with other saints or to attend church during Holy Week, can shake our faith, dampen our spiritual remembrance, or cause us to forget... then perhaps we owe Coronavirus a big thank you for causing us to revisit what our faith is truly about. It isn’t the church building, or who we are with during these moments of faithful remembrance, that makes them what they are, it is what transpired those many years ago in Jerusalem... and lives on in us today.
“Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.”
1 Corinthians 3:16-17 ESV
Prayer:
Father, thank you for separating us from those things that have become religiously familiar, and for causing us to revisit our relationship with you. Thank you for shaking all of creation, and sifting the wheat from the chaff of our faith and worship. Help us Lord to see what is true, what is important to our walk with you, and what is simply tradition. Help us Holy Father in our unbelief, and in removing those things we count as belief, but which are contrived, or the product of misunderstanding. Lead us through the influence, and guidance of your Holy Spirit as we worship you in spirit and truth. Protect us Father in this time of pandemic plague, and spiritual adjustment. Let your hand guide our steps, and your spirit quicken our thoughts as we turn towards you for help, and salvation in this our season of suffering . Teach us that we are your temple, and that those “Things of religion” are meant to rise up from within each of us. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God with whom we walk personally through this life. Praised be your name for each moment we spend in your presence, and for the quiet times of prayer when we talk intimately with one another. Great are you Lord who forms the Church, and gathers together your children, but greater yet are you who walks privately with us, and teaches us to be in communion with you... loving you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Awesome are you who hovers over us in the still of the morning, and the winding down of every day. Strong is your right arm that defends us, and protects us from all harm; spiritual as well as physical. All glory is yours Father, And it is made perfect through your Son Jesus who abides in us now, and forevermore.
“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.”
Romans 8:18-23 ESV
Rich Forbes