REFLECTIONS FROM THE PEW BY DAN SITZMAN
May 17
“I didn’t think that I’d give up this much during Lent!”
I saw the photo of a church message board as I scrolled through social media last month. It made me chuckle, then reflect. Lent, with the loss of the “allelulias” in church services, as well as the tradition of giving up chocolate or ice cream or beer, has always ended for me with a burst of joy. But as the physical distancing continued, the Easter season extended doubt and confusion about the future. I think that I better understand the hesitations and uncertainty experienced by the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection.
In this Sunday’s Gospel from John, we hear Jesus reassure the disciples that even if the world cannot see him, they will. I wonder what they thought, as they were still understanding the resurrection of Jesus, to hear Jesus imply that he was going away.
To think that 6 weeks ago, when I saw a few people wearing face masks in the grocery store, I felt startled. Wearing a face mask in public was for odd people like Michael Jackson. But now, I have several face masks to choose from as I gather my wallet, car keys, hand sanitizer, coupons and shopping list to head to get groceries. But there are still challenges all around us. In a city where people who a few weeks ago were donating to the Food Bank are now obtaining food from there, when we hear of churches re-opening but know that now is not the time for St. Andrew’s, when we want to do many things that are no safer now than two months ago, many of us seek reassurance about the future.
In the Epistle from First Peter this Sunday, we hear from an apostle who once was uncertain, but now speaks with confidence as he encourages those suffering religious persecution : do not fear, do not be intimidated; yet do it with gentleness and reverence.
As the pandemic continues, we may have given up and continue to give up more than we thought we would, but we can continue to grow in our love of God and for others.
