Resurrection and Lockdown

Jesus Christ’ Resurrection in the midst of Lockdown

Rev. Bartholomew Segan Palk, CSI Coimbatore Diocese 


Resurrection and Lockdown are extremely opposite words. As we face this lockdown worldwide, let us meditate - how are we going to celebrate the Resurrected Christ in the midst of Lockdown?


“Resurrection” is referred as rebirth from the dead or a revival from an inactive to an active stage. Whereas the word “Lockdown” refers to a kind of imprisonment and both these words are familiar to the Christian world, before and after Resurrection the disciples were in lockdown themselves because they feared the people and their life was at risk of survival.
It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and other women that were with them, which told these things (Resurrection of Jesus Christ) unto the apostles. - KJV (Luke 24:10)
Some of the greatest miracles in the world are revealed through unknown and uncared people. Like the birth of Jesus Christ to the Shepherds and the Re-birth of Jesus Christ to the women, the important thing to be noticed here is both these people are called as unnoticed by the society, that is why the disciples had not given much importance when told about the Resurrection of Christ by those women - even now God’s way of performing miracles continue in a unique way which we cannot understand by our human understanding (the frontline healthcare workers who were neglected and considered as untouchable in the past by the society because of their caste and the nature of work are considered now as God’s incarnation).

Celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection in the midst of Lockdown?
How do we interpret this lockdown and the present scenario happening around us? Some called this as a sign of the second coming, wrath of God, third world war, Bio-war and to anextend some fundamentalist say about 666 and so on...
The disciples afraid were stranded in their rooms and locked from inside like what we have done now.
But to those who believe in God, this period of stillness and silence is the time to Trust & Faith in the Resurrected Lord. For there is nothing impossible and no situation is called as a Hopeless situation to the one who (Jesus) conquered the death.
Because He (Jesus Christ) lives, we can face tomorrow.
Some of us (you) may think, it is easy to speak and preach but nothing comes to use at "real-time crisis"; when people die in thousands even without their beloved ones nearby in their last minute, we might ask where is Christ when they need the most?

Does Christ allow suffering to His followers? No never.
It might shake our very faith, is it? Not so.
It is we humans who fail to understand the ways of God.
Bible Says, Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. “He will not leave you or forsake you.”Deut 31:6
In one of the news channels and the world at present helps us to understand, how Nature is reclaiming its space from Human because of our (humans) exploitation and encroachment.
So it is not God who has punished us, it is we humans who havebeen punished because of our own Greed and Selfish behaviour.
Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him. Let no one say when he is tempted, I am tempted from God; for God is incapable of being tempted by [what is] evil and He Himself tempts no one. But every person is tempted when he is drawn away, enticed and baited by his own evil desire (lust, passions). Then the evil desire, when it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is fully matured, brings forth death. Do not be misled, my beloved brethren. (James 1:12-16 AMP)
Our greed and evil desire has conceived and given birth to sin and this sin has matured and has brought forth death in this form of catastrophe.
Therefore, let us not misled by any of the false doctrines, it’s time to rejuvenate our faith in the Resurrected Lord.

So how do we celebrate Christ Resurrection today?
When the women witnessed the Risen Christ, they rushed to spread the HOPE. Hope to the hopeless people who (disciples) were in fear of survival, fear of facing the society and fear of death.

Let us spread hope, we have a future.
The future what we are going to celebrate is not with power, money or even by our knowledge but by the hard work and tireless service of the frontline healthcare workers, the so-called untouchables who have made us a path for the future, the doctors, the people who show their kindness and love through their service.
Let us celebrate the New World with Respect and Love, Caring by Sharing, living by coexisting with nature.
When we are in lockdown, May the Risen Lord helps us to unlock Love and Kindness towards strangers, Care and Share towards the needy and Respect to all human irrespective of colour, creed, caste and sex.

Christ is Risen! Indeed He is Risen. Amen Alleluia.

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