Corona Easter

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” John 20:17.

 Yesterday a friend sent me little attachment on Facebook Messenger.  "Don't Touch Grandma" (Youtube.com) is a goofy social distancing type song composed and performed by Jimmy Fallon and Adam Sandler.  Obviously recorded from separate locations (thanks to technicians who easily knit things together digitally) is a touching tribute to the grandmas who are an at-risk commodity in these days of corona pandemic  

This is apparently an issue of considerable import these days.  I say apparently because in the early days of Corona threat I had taken a slightly casual approach to being careful around the elderly.  Three weeks ago when our son and his family arrived from a world tour to quarantine in our home, my wife and I were elated, thrilled that we would have 14 days of uninterrupted quality time with our beloved who had been adventuring all winter!  We discovered immediately that an almost family spat had preceded this. There was some strong feeling between them and our other children about whether it was appropriate for them to land in our home and possibly expose us, their mom and dad, to whatever they might have caught abroad.  Needless to say my own light-heartedness continued, but it was more along the line of being willing to die for the sheer pleasure of having kids around!  As we listened to daily reports we all began to realize our love for one another cannot ignore a new reality about how to be with one another.

So, new attention to an often read and familiar scripture.  Mary Magdalene, the steadfast follower of Jesus has a full-on first time experience with the beloved ribbouni, or teacher.  The immediate response of Jesus upon her discovery of his risen presence is like "Hold off. Don't touch".  We have the sheer delight of resurrection, along with immediate introduction of a new way.  There is something here, something I probably would not have noticed, had it not been for the current pandemic.  There is a new restriction, a new caution, a new reality.  Do not resort to old lovey dovies, but accept a new way of love.

A new way of love.  Abby Norman, a pastor in Atlanta, GA in her Easter message, also agrees that the pandemic reveals a new breath on this scripture. She says she never much thought about that damper on the joyous reunion.  "Now,"  she says, "it is all I can think about.  This year, those details that someone is here ... but no you cannot touch him, have become so real to me." (Sojo,net).  We can leave notes on the sidewalk, she says, wave from car windows, we can call and we can text.  But we cannot physically hold on to one another.

A new way of love and new unknowns.  In a brief communique yesterday with the office secretary of our church I realize I had that awareness, "After this is over our church will never be the same", so I typed.  Old habits are dying hard of course. The smart alecks, the deflectors (in trucker language, read bullshitters), the know-it-alls, the coffee shop politicians now relegate binary opinions to social media.  Uneducated busybodies will always be there, as Jesus encountered every day of his life (see John 1:14). 

It will be different, yes, but also the old continues.  Jesus knows that Mary Magdalene is by far the best one to communicate with those wimpy disciples who are cowering in a room somewhere. "But go to my brothers" he says to her. Oh, and I also notice Jesus still appreciates those real conversations even with those failed disciples - note his conversation with Thomas just a bit later in this chapter (20:24-29  Sure read it right now).  Yup, praise God here is a message for all my failed friends here, there, and everywhere.  I think of trucker buddies who have cried with me bitter tears because of lost communication, failed marriages, daughters who will not speak to them, children in jail, etc. etc.  I think of cowering fellow church members who are ashamed of themselves but feel compelled to at least show up in church occasionally but cannot be honest with themselves (church version of the bullshitters).  Jesus lovingly instructs Mary Magdalene to go lightly with the touching, but also gives her the life-giving assignment to "go tell the others".   I see here the crystal clear invitation to speak humbly and modestly about this sacred learning that is unfolding right before us. 

People yearn for touch, yes, but clamor for a spoken Word.  Here is a huge challenge to the preachers of this day.  Even as you speak to an empty church building you are speaking to a world listening.  Please honor your sacred trust.  You must become reflective and open and there is nothing wrong with self-identity as one of those cowering disciples.  Lift up your eyes and see Mary Magdalene coming with the news. He lives! He lives!  So to all of us, whether we're entertainers like Jimmy Fallon or Adam Sandler, whether the profession is preacher or trucker or scientist or artist or carpenter, essential worker or freshly unemployed, whether indigenous, black, white or yellow, Muslim, Sikh, agnostic (yes you too my friend), Jewish or Christian  (diligent Mennonite or born again Bible thumper or ecumenical variety) it matters not!!  It's a new day, and as my straight talking dairy farmer sister just said, we may all croak soon. 😏  But I say Jesus has the same message for all of us.

Of course for a while now we can not shake hands and hug and greet in our gatherings.  However; there's Mary coming your way with that news about the resurrected Savior.