Day 38

Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself looking for the kingdom of God, took courage and went to Pilate, and asked for the Body of Jesus. And Pilate wondered if He were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether He was already dead. And when he learned from the centurion that He was dead, he granted the Body to Joseph. And he bought a linen shroud, and taking Him down, wrapped Him in the linen shroud, and laid Him in a tomb which had been hewn out of the rock; and he rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid. Mark 15:43-47 (From the Tenth Gospel on Holy Thursday Evening)

Just prior to writing this reflection, I sent out the new parish directives from our Metropolitan concerning Holy Week and Pascha. As we struggle to come to grips with a new, although temporary, reality in how we live, work, teach and yes…worship…the words of Fr. Stavros today really hit home.

Masters, attendees and seekers. Fr. Stavros reflects today on Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to talk about our relationship with God and the Church. I know that most of you are suffering from this separation from the Church, from the Body and Blood of Christ. I know because I have spoken to you and have noticed you watching the live streams. I understand and join you in that struggle.

To be sure, we are being tested during this season of Lent. Over my years here at St. John’s I have spoken to you repeatedly each Lent about how we need to change our lives, especially during these holy days of Lent and Holy Week. Right now, we are being forced to change.

We won’t get pussy willows on Palm Sunday. We won’t walk around the Church with the burial shroud of Jesus. We won’t see and hear the Church door pounded on and gloriously enter the bright Church to the beautiful resurrection hymn. No, we won’t physically do these things together. But these things will still happen. The reality of Jesus Christ and the Church is that it is a reality for one just as much as it is a reality for hundreds. The true question that is put before us during this struggle is what are we going to be? Masters, attendees or seekers?

Are we going to be masters and decide to just ignore Holy Week and Pascha since the Church won’t be open to us? Have we made up our minds that it is not worth the effort or the trouble? Do we not want to bring the reality of the Resurrection into our homes and lives? Is it an intrusion to us?

Are we going to be attendees? Maybe we will have the services on in the background, as noise. Maybe we will sit on the couch and watch. Will we take the time to read the resource from the Diocese to help make Holy Week real in our homes?

Hopefully, we will be seekers. Certainly much of what is taking place is strange and hard to grasp. The Resurrection was strange and hard to grasp for Joseph and Nicodemus. It was hard to grasp for the Myrrh-bearing women. It was even hard to grasp for the Disciples themselves. We have the benefit of knowing what took place on that fateful day.

We must be seekers during this current crisis. We must seek our Jesus Christ, inviting Him into every nook and cranny of our lives. We must look at the current situation in the Church as an opportunity to do this. When was the last time that we had the chance to be a part of EVERY SERVICE OF HOLY WEEK?

We may be physically separated from the Church at this time, but we have an incredible opportunity to spiritually be a part of it. Each service of Holy Week walks us through the Passion of Jesus. Each service of Holy Week leads us by hand to the Resurrection of Christ.

We have a chance to deepen our spiritual connection to the Church and God that is unprecedented. And if we let it, this connection will only deepen our faith and our commitment to the Christian life and the Church. The day will come when the Church will be open to us again. It will be a glorious day. But it will be all the more glorious because we have become stronger in our faith. We have become closer to God.

There is an old saying that goes; “Today is the first day of the rest of your life”. This Holy Week and Pascha, be a true seeker of God. Let this Holy Week and Pascha be the first day of a new, deeper and stronger relationship with God and His Holy Church.

You have the chance to be a true seeker. Make the most of it!

In Christ

Fr. David