Every year, Lent starts on Ash Wednesday. It marks the start of a forty (40) day period in which we are called to reflect and pray, similarly to what Christ experienced during 40 days in the wilderness. Every year, we are supposed to use this Lenten period to at least try to understand our own human frailties and remind ourselves that our eternal souls should not be forgotten through the bustle and distraction accompanies day-to-day life. But what’s special about this year is that we were given an opportunity within Lent to really think, meditate, pray, or simply just be. We are mandated to stay home – it’s almost like we were granted a period of time to do exactly what we’re supposed to do during Lent.
As Easter Sunday looms tomorrow, many people will do all they can to attend Church services. The two (2) busiest times for any church are Easter and Christmas and this year, although we are supposed to physically distance ourselves from one another, some church leaders will defy closure orders and conduct their usual services, placing their congregations at risk of sickness. To me, this defiance is nothing more than a money grab: People can’t tithe if there’s no church.. From my perspective, this money grab is a modern day attempt to turn faith communities into real dens of thieves that are contrary to “Christian” values.
Christians, first and foremost, should understand social justice. Jesus was an advocate for their poor and sick and I have no doubt that he’d abide by today’s isolation orders. Even though he could heal the sick, he would render unto Caesar and ask his followers to cooperate with the government’s ordinances, especially if those ordinances were in the interests of the common good.
Therefore, if you’re planning on conducting/attending Easter services in person: Please don’t. Stay home. If you have doubt about what you should do, ask yourself, “have I reflected and accepted this year’s Lenten gift? Have I sought understanding of my weaknesses and ways I can improve?” If you answer “No” to those questions, then there’s really no point in attending services, anyway. Without attempting to spend time in our own respective wildernesses, attending Easter services is nothing more than spiritual masturbation. Stay home. Don’t be a selfish jerk. Especially on Easter Sunday.
