East End United Church Campuses

Holy Week Reflection from Rev. Sarah Miller

Here we are in a very different Holy Week. This week would usually be one of the busiest in the church, and while many of us are still busy, it is a very different kind of activity. In this different landscape, we walk towards the cross in new ways.

Our Maundy Thursday service remembers the meal Jesus shared with his disciples in a very difficult time. They gathered even though it was challenging to find a safe way to do so. They ate together and spoke of loss, betrayal and love. On Good Friday we reflect on the Stations of the Cross and go into the lament and sadness of the cross.

This time of pandemic has felt very fitting during Lent. We have all given up so much more than we expected to this year. But how do we move into the season of Easter when our lives remain very much in Lent?

In the same way as we hold the hope of Easter throughout the days of Lent, I would invite us all to hold the hope of life after pandemic in the midst of our practices of isolation and distancing. The first Easter celebrated the resurrection of Jesus but the context of occupation and oppression continued. Easter is God saying no to the forces of domination. Easter is God saying no to the ways we hurt each other and the ways we disconnect from our true selves. Even though we will not shift out of the time of giving up and letting go for some time, resurrection is still active in our lives as God calls each of us to live authentically, to love fully, and to seek justice.

I give thanks for the ways that we are connecting as community without meeting in person. It is so important that we stay home if we can and that we all minimize our in person contact with people as much as possible. This is one of the best ways we can say thank you to healthcare workers and grocery store staff who are caring for our health and ensuring we have access to food and essentials.

Please reach out if you are struggling with physical, emotional, or spiritual concerns. We are not alone. God is with us and calls us to love and serve one another. May it be so with us.