These are unique days for us. Difficult days for us. Humanity across the globe is joined in what may be the first common struggle of our race. Even in the days of World War II when most nations were locked in conflict some were spared the struggle, but even then humanity was divided. It was a burden that we had imposed upon ourselves.
Today's struggle with COVID19 is different in that it does not distinguish between tribes, nations, creeds, race or gender. This is one fight we are in together. This is one hardship we share.
The hardships we are experiencing and shall experience may be quite different for some folks. It may seem very unfair what we have to give up, what is taken from us for a time, that others may not have the same challenges as we do. And that is often the point of hardship, it is often unfair. It involves sacrifice which also is often unfair. But these are times that call us to sacrifice for our neighbor and for our neighbor to sacrifice for us.
A very difficult for many Christians and certainly for my congregation is to have to forgo worship for a period of time. Our state has forbidden gatherings of over 10 for ten days and our Mayor and city council have extended this all the way through April 18th. It is hard to not be able to gather together, especially in times like this, for mutual consolation, for worship and prayer, to receive the sacrament of Holy Communion which is very special for us.
The following is mostly written for my flock and my fellow brothers and sisters of the LCMS.
Our church has released some guidance regarding Holy Communion through the Commission on Theology and Church Relations. I was reading through this and while there is talk of hardship and sacrifice, there is also comfort and promise here. I'd like to share with you the key points:
- · The inability to commune is therefore no small matter, but a true hardship!
Holy Communion has the promise of Christ attached to it. Jesus Himself said, "given for you for the forgivness of sins." Holy Communion is one of the three means of grace that God uses to convey to us the benefits of what Christ accomplished on the cross through the presence of His body and blood. So yes, to forgo this is a hardship.
- · We know, however, that the church has known this hardship at other times and not only in our own time…We are not in uncharted territory.
The CTCR mentions several examples of when the church has not been able to receive communion including during the spanish flu, settlement activities, and even today when small churches don't have pastors. There were times in my military career as an enlisted member that I went for extended periods without communion. Several of our own members have shared the same with me, that there were extended periods of time when it was not available. Yet, their faith in Christ was sustained. How?
- · The forgiveness of sins is not prevented when one cannot commune, for it is delivered by the Gospel as it is read and preached and spoken by the royal priesthood and also in the sacraments of Baptism and the Holy Supper as well as in Absolution
Our God is a generous God. Holy Communion is not the only means of grace. The Word of God proclaims the Gospel and the Gospel is the power of God for salvation for all who believe. We who are baptized remain baptized and the gifts of baptism are for us every moment of our lives. As Luther reminds us in his Small Catechism, baptism is for us to daily drown the old Adam so the new can arise. God has put His name on us. We are His and He is ours.
There have been some discussions and conversations regarding potential ways we could safely continue to dispense communion including the use of technology or remote and in person distribution. The CTCR also addresses these matters in the document.
- · As great as the hardship is when we cannot receive Christ’s body and blood, the hardship ought not be “resolved” in ways that promise an uncertain “sacrament” without the absolute assurance that Christ intends.
- · a pastor speak the words of institution from the church during a streaming service while everyone communes at home.
- · also cannot support the suggestion that a pastor may consecrate elements with the elders or deacons, who would then administer them to members
- · best minimizes the spread of infection, we note that this suggested practice introduces two potential opportunities for the transmission of Covid-19. The first is the interaction between the pastor and the elders/deacons. The second is the interaction of the individual elder or deacon with the communicant(s) in the home.
While the CTCR does not specifically speak to the practice of private communion with the pastor, these words do give pause and concern regarding the "interaction" between pastor and communicant as well. This too provides potential opportunity for transmission of Covid-19 with the pastor becoming a focal point of transmission. It is something as a pastor I have to take into consideration in my pastoral care as many of my own people are especially vulnerable to this virus.
So what are we to do? This is the guidance of the CTCR for our church body the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod in these days.
- · We can be thankful that God in His mercy has not given the Lord’s Supper as the only “means of grace.” Instead, he showers us with His grace. The Gospel is not silenced, forgiveness is proclaimed, Baptism will be administered even in emergencies, and Baptism is lived out daily by means of repentance and the new life that God’s Spirit enables us to live in any and all circumstances.
- · let us encourage every baptized child of God to be fervent in seeking opportunities to hear the Word of God as it goes forth from written sermons, letters, websites, emails, streaming videos, and other means, to read the Word in their homes, to implore God to end this plague and preserve His church
- · As great as the hardship is when we cannot receive Christ’s body and blood, the hardship ought not be “resolved” in ways that promise an uncertain “sacrament” without the absolute assurance that Christ intends. It is better humbly and repentantly to ask the Lord for the regular administration of the Sacrament of the Altar to be restored to us, together with an end to the “deadly pestilence” that is killing thousands of souls who are precious to God, their Creator (see Psalm 91; Jonah 4:11).
God indeed showers us with His grace. While we must endure the hardship of not receiving Christ's body and blood and we pray that God will resolve this sickness and enable us to gather again for the Divine Service to receive the regular administration of the Sacrament, we will not despair. We will not tremble. We will not give the Satanic enemy purchase to cast doubt upon the power of the Gospel for salvation (Rom 1:16) and we shall not doubt that we are baptized into the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit and as Scripture says, if we have been baptized into a death like His we shall see a resurrection like His. (Rom 6:3-4)
What can you do? Read the Word. Remember your Baptism. Remember Christ has died for you and the promises of God never depend on what we do but upon what He has already done. You can endure the hardships asked of you and make sacrifices for the well-being of neighbor, family, even yourself. We will get through this. And then when we can gather together again and celebrate the Sacrament together again it will be all the sweeter.
The graphic above reminds us there is no barrier that God cannot break down. John in his first chapter of his gospel proclaims that Christ is the very Word of God, the light that broke into the darkness. His light conquered the barrier of sin and death. His cross defeats death and becomes a life giving cross no barrier can stop. Our destiny is still certain. Our direction is still toward heaven in God's time.
Yes, if the virus or any other sickness or frailty ends our mortal life, heaven is ours through Christ. But Christ has not yet returned. He has not yet said the final day is here. There is work for us to do yet as His people. We are called to be light in the world. There is work for us to do as Christian witnesses, as fathers and mothers, as friends and neighbors, as ones who love and are loved. That work today calls us to sacrifice and hardship. But it reminds us God remains with us. It reminds us that we are in this together. It moves us to gratitude for those who are sacrificing and risking much for us and others especially among our health care providers who are directly in harms way. It moves us to endure the hardship and make the sacrifices needful to ease their path and preserve the lives of our neighbors, our families and those we love.
This will pass. But until it does -- remain faithful. Do not tremble. Endure hardship as generations of Christians have had to do before us. And remember Christ has already endured: for you.
Isaiah 53:5
But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
