“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo. “So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
J.R.R. Tolkien, The Fellowship of the ring
At first I wanted to stay clear of this topic because there is much out there that has been written and recorded concerning the pandemic. Alas! it is time for me to add my thoughts to the din of the internet.
I find it no mere coincidence that this pandemic — COVID-19 — has stretched its viral tendrils throughout most of the world during Holy and Great Lent. As we see in the often neglected Old Testament, it surprises me still just how Marcion the modern Church can be, that God uses war, pestilence, plague and famine to call people back to Him. We want a more salutary answer than that. In an age that has been shaped by moral therapeutic deism, modern people refuse to see God in times such as these. Or they twist it to suit their religious-ideological purposes. How can God allow this happen if He’s a good God? Why does he allow good people to suffer? These questions raise doubts in people already plagued by doubt (sorry for the pun, that was unintentional).
In the unfolding events of the past couple of weeks, I’ve seen just how materialistic society has become. I mean this in two ways. The first being the classical use of the word, a belief system that perceives the world as only matter, that there exists nothing transcendent or spiritual. It is a flattened world. We are all trapped within the immanent frame, to use a concept from Charles Taylor. And I mean materialism in its contemporary sense as consumeristic. People are scared and believe that if they just stock enough canned beans and toilet paper (which the latter is a necessity if all you have to eat is the former) they won’t suffer. I think it speaks volumes about the psychological development of our culture as a whole when toilet paper has become emblematic of the crisis. I’m not a Freudian…but I wonder what he would say about our obsession with cleaning up after defecation. (I don’t intend this to be crude, it is just an observation that I’ve made).
The intention of this post is not to address the varying views and responses to the virus. I’m not placing myself on either side of the spectrum regarding the Orthodox Church’s response at the parish, diocesan, or national levels. I’ve seen people grieved and at the point of tears over not being able to attend our beloved Lenten services, and fearful of the looming eventuality that services of Holy Week and Pascha could be limited or cancelled. I worry about this too. But it is beyond our control. What we can control is how we respond to this situation that we’ve been given.
Are we distraught because we can’t physically be in the temple among the icons and clergy, immersed in the hymns? Perhaps this is influence from our materialist culture, overly focused on the tangible. Or on the contrary, have we become lackadaisical because we don’t have to be physically present in our parish, it doesn’t matter, so long as we can watch services streamed, right? Perhaps this is a bit of ecclesiastical Nestorianism, the physical and divine of the Church are not truly united; the physical act of Liturgy is happening in the building, while we spiritually engage at home. Lest we forget that both the Church militant and triumphant are united in Christ at all times and places regardless of where we are, we should discard these two extremes. This instagram post from Creative Orthodox is a good visual for teaching children (this may even help adults) what it means to be the Body of Christ. We must remember that we are together.
This is a time of great sacrifice. God is calling us back to Him. Perhaps we’ve become too focused on externals, so now many of us are forced to stay at home. Perhaps we’ve become slothful in our own homes and forgot that we’re supposed to create a mini church in the place which we’ve been given. This is our time to grow our spiritual lives, to move inward and cultivate a bountiful inner life. We are called to enlarge our hearts.
This is the opportune time for the Church to be the two things that this blog is primarily about. Education and evangelism. Take this time to read Scripture, the Fathers, literature, and to pray! Stay in contact with your spiritual father so you can hone your prayer rule and, if he wants you to, focus on the Jesus Prayer. Take the time to write and journal, this is a wonderful way to sift through your thoughts and emotions during this stressful time. If you haven’t done so, read the post I did about the imagination, the second (and probably third) part will soon follow. I encourage you to read and create during this time. For more on culture creation read Deacon Nicholas’ blog
I was one of the irate ones when I found out that restrictions were placed on services and attendance. However, I’ve begun to acclimate to these changes, and my perspective has changed. This is the time for the Church to be the Church. We may not be able to respond in quite the same way the early Church responded to plague, and it may be that our services are limited or doors closed, but this is the chance for each of us to be the Church to our families, friends, and neighbors. We are called to live what we sing every Paschal season, that Christ has conquered death by death. We need not fear sickness and death because the Church is the hospital. It is also the Ark of Salvation afloat these tumultuous times. Cleave to Christ, and we’ll be saved. Be a light to the world. Be the city on a hill. When your neighbor asks for your cloak, give it to them. When a stranger is hungry feed them. When someone needs toilet paper, give them your last roll. God provides for us…and he provides for others through us.
Let us be the Church in our time and place. Kyrie eleison.
