The months of March and April, in the year 2021, bring to our minds some significant moments in time. Let me share some thoughts on these matters.
First, it has now been one year since we first began to deal with the COVID-19 global pandemic. No event in our life times has brought about such dramatic change in such a relatively short period of time. In the course of one year, our lives and culture have been changed tremendously and permanently. Over 510,000 Americans, and around 2.5 million people worldwide, have passed into eternity with COVID-19 - with over 28.5 million having tested positive in the United States (around 115 million worldwide) - our country has more deaths from COVID than any other country in the world yet we supposedly have the most advanced health care system. COVID has brought to the surface the disparities in healthcare outcomes - with Blacks and Hispanics having substantially higher rates of infection, hospitalization, and death.
Every institution of life has been impacted - the church, education, business and industry, government, nonprofits, etc. We have witnessed the greatest economic dislocation since the Great Depression. On a positive note, treatments have greatly improved for the virus, and the numbers of people who have been vaccinated are increasing. We are hopeful that the worst may be over by late spring to early summer - yet we are now hearing of numerous variants of the virus that are spreading at a much more rapid pace and may be somewhat resistant to the vaccines.
We are all exhausted from the pandemic - we all know of multiple people who have passed away with COVID - most all families have had at least one family member to have tested positive. There are post-COVID-19 complications that we are only now beginning to understand in terms of long-term and debilitating health effects. While the infection numbers and positivity rates are going down, the numbers of those passing away are increasing. Here in Kentucky - more than 400,000 have had COVID and over 4,600 have passed away. Taylor County continues to be in the "at highest risk" category, according to national designations, as this blog is prepared in late February.
Second, even in the midst of all the darkness of this one year anniversary of COVID-19, there is another journey that we are on during this period - the Season of Lent. Beginning on Ash Wednesday and continuing through the Saturday before Easter Sunday, this 40-day season is a time in which Christians spend time in self-reflection, repentance, prayer and meditation, Bible study and prayer, self-denial, and renewed reflection on the passion of Jesus in his sacrifice for our sins. While Lent may seem to be somewhat "dark" in itself because of the emphasis on moving toward the Cross and what Jesus went through, there is "light" - even in the darkest of moments as Jesus hangs on the Cross - pointing toward the hope that is to come.
Holy Week is a very important part of Lent beginning with Palm Sunday on March 28 and concluding on Holy Saturday on April 3. Good Friday (April 2) is the day that we remember Jesus actually experiencing the pain and agony of the crucifixion on the Cross. If you are following my sermon series on "Christ Speaks from the Cross," you have a good idea of the fact that even in the time of Jesus' pain and suffering, He was expressing forgiveness for those who were crucifying Him and showing concern and love for others. It was on the Cross that He took upon himself the sins of all humanity and was in that moment separated from God the Father - for the first and only time in all of history. He died. His body was placed in a tomb. And on the third day, He arose from the dead. The tomb was empty. Jesus arose and thereby conquered death - making provision for our salvation once and for all. And He ultimately ascended into heaven where He sits at the right hand of God the Father and from where He will return one day for His church. But He did not leave us without hope - God's Holy Spirit has come to us and is in us! Praise God. What a powerful message in an age of darkness and death as we have experienced over the past year of the COVID-19 pandemic! Amen!!
Third, the spring season is a time when we witness the bursting forth of God's creation - as the flowers bloom and trees put forth leaves and the beautiful colors are so abundant. Spring is a physical representation and reminder that God is our creator - and of how he renews our lives in Jesus Christ. Again, when we have experienced a year of pandemic, and as the pandemic continues at some level, God is using Easter and the spring season as a time of renewal and recommitment for His people! Can you sense it? I do. I need it. We all need it. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. May this be a season of renewal, hope, and reminder that God is in charge and that there is always hope in Jesus Christ.