Faith and Hope in the Time of COVID - John 20:1-9

KAALAGAD Gospel Reflection
 April 12, 2020; Easter Sunday
John 20:1-9

The Empty Tomb

20 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. 2 So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”
3 So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. 4 Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5 He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. 6 Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, 7 as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. 8 Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. 9 (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)

FAITH AND HOPE IN THE TIME OF COVID

The empty tomb narrative is being celebrated by Christians as an event that highlights faith and hope for all Christian believers.  Not to find the body of Jesus, but only his clothes, inside the tomb made Jesus’ friends, disciples and the early Christians believe that Jesus has resurrected. This event is also marked as an extremely joyful celebration faith in Jesus Christ. He rose from the death. He defied the dark reality of death and that Jesus died that he left us.

Reading through this gospel in the time of Covid-19 can also give us hope.

What precedes the resurrection is Jesus’ death.  The situation for the disciples is dark and gloomy. Our beloved leader left us.  The situation today gives us that same sense more than ever before. Jesus is dead today. We get angry at the failures of government’s response to the pandemic. We feel afraid, as the President talks mean, dirty and threatens us. We feel sad of the traditional politicians who scamper to take advantage of the situation to propagate themselves. During this time, Jesus is dead. The same feelings of the disciples then, when Jesus died.  Lonely.  Sad.  Afraid. Angry. I feel the same way now.

I have been on a two-week quarantine journey with my family now.  Trying to adjust to the “new “normal” way of life – restricted mobility, lack of social contact, frugal living .  We have watched both local and international news, we saw the rising death rates even among the first world countries like Italy, Spain, UK, and US. You get a sense of political maneuverings and power struggle and self-interests especially in the USA. I find the news all over the world, including ours as revolting and depressing.

So, I ask, when will this pandemic end? Will good triumph? Will God be with us in this most trying time? Will there be resurrection at this time?

Despite my lack of belief in a traditional and hierarchical church, I still and truly believe that God is here with us. That God is resurrected in the face of ordinary people who offer generosity to fellow Filipinos not out of obligation but out of love.

A designer creates and designs his own brand of PPEs for frontliners.  Another one creates a plastic shield to use as face masks.  A taho seller scoops and gives his wares for free to soldiers manning the quarantine lines. And a baker of ensaymada gives wares to people passing by.  An old woman at the corner of a street gives alcohol. A young man and his group provide medicine to an elderly.  Artists and celebrities sing songs and share messages to help raise funds.  Civil society groups speak up to protect the rights of people and offer support to poor communities. Churches continue their work of mercy.

These are snippets of God working within us. Despite the pathetic situation we are now in, despite the idiosyncrasies of the President and his minions, we continue to rise as a People. This is our source of hope. We need to continue to hold on to these and believe!

Jesus is alive. He gives us hope. We celebrate with joy in this time of Holy Week!

I guess God works within me too?  Despite my health challenge, I made a sign to support our frontliners.  My Facebook page carries this image. I hope everybody shares a little of God to whoever and whomever we can reach. So that we may fully celebrate the resurrection of Christ in this daunting period of our life as a nation.

(Protect and support the health workers, food workers, check point workers and elderly.  The Lenten cross is something for the Holy Week, the difference is that we have a cloth that is colored red not purple.  Have a nice Holy Easter!)

Vio B. Esguerra
Kaalagad Member