According to Lutheran liturgy, this is the second Sunday of Easter, but last Sunday didn’t feel like Easter because of COVID-19. I wasn’t in church, wasn’t singing the glorious hymns of Resurrection, and wasn’t hearing God’s word from the minister. As with churches across the nation, my church was closed, and I was struggling with my computer speakers to get any sound from them. Somehow, sitting in front of a computer screen, trying to lip-read what’s going on in a “live-view” service just isn’t the same as sitting in church, surrounded by loving people, hearing the pipe organ swell, smelling the beautiful flowers, and watching rambunctious children wanting to get home to do their Easter egg hunt.
Today, however, I promised myself a real Easter service. My computer speakers are fixed, thanks to my computer guy, so I headed downstairs to listen to two sermons and the “Andrea Bocelli: Music for Hope” performance from the Duomo Cathedral in Milan, Italy on April 12, 2020. As he sang, memories from my trip last year to Italy came rushing back to me; the cathedral is a tribute to the power of God and us as His messengers. I was struck by Andrea’s portrayal of peace, prayers, and passion in his selection of music: “Panis Angelicus,” “Ave Maria,” “Sancta Maria,” “Domine Deus,” and “Amazing Grace.” All signify God’s grace, mercy, love, and power for a world on its knees due to a tiny germ no one can see but many are trying to eradicate.
Many of us are anxious, fearful, and doubtful of God’s purpose in all of this turmoil, but His Son is working through the troubles which now surround us. All of our medical staffs, scientists, and first- responders are “Christ with flesh on.” They are helping all of us survive, even at high risk to themselves and their families. Christ brings us faith and hope; He is alive, even though many are finding it hard to believe. When this pandemic is under control, we will survive, but we must always understand that the final word lies with God.
In the Bible, Christ says, “Peace be with you.” He doesn’t mean peace for only those who believe, but peace for our hearts, our homes, our world, and all of creation. He breathes new life into each and everyone of us with His death on the cross and His Resurrection from the tomb. He gives us living hope and wants us to be a part of His mission around the world. With His grace and mercy, we will live to see another day, not just live but grow into the servants God wants us to be.
It is my humble prayer that the many diverse peoples of the world will rise out of this pandemic, realizing that we are not different; we are alike. We need each other more than we ever have, and we need to love one another more than pick each other apart. God is with us, and His will shines through the darkness that we have created.
Joshua 24:15 states, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” I will serve no other master, and Christ lives in my thoughts, deeds, and actions. Even though today is the second Sunday of Easter according to my denomination, it really is the real Easter for me this year. In the voice of the blind Andrea Bocelli, “Amazing grace…was blind but now I see.” I have been emotionally blind, but I am not physically blind like Andrea. I have had my ups and downs through this terrible disease, and as I understand who I really am, I have doubted where God has been, at times. My heart and soul now see the path to my Eternal home, and I know my Redeemer lives. Shouting, “Hosanna to the Living God,” I sing my praise to God, the Father Almighty! “Alleluia! Christ is risen! Alleluia!”
Anna Hartt
