What is a Christian to do in a Pandemic?
Lazarus was ill. He was dying. But Mary and Martha weren’t worried – they knew Jesus. They knew he could heal Lazarus. So they called upon Jesus to come.
But Jesus didn’t come when they called… and Lazarus died. Mary and Martha knew that Jesus had the power to prevent Lazarus from dying. IF only… he had come. So why not? Why didn’t he? They felt abandoned. They cried out of mourning but they also felt alone…. abandoned.. and hurt. Their call, their prayer, wasn’t answered.
There are lots of prayers going up to Jesus right now. And as we seek to keep physical distance from one another – there are lots of people who feel alone and wonder – how long will this last?
We wonder as we listen to the news from around the world, places like China, Italy, Washington state and New York City, places where the virus has spread rapidly… how hard it will hit here? We worry and wonder about people that we know and love. Will they be infected with the virus? Will we? Our hearts ache when we hear the sad sad stories of whole families that are infected. We worry about those who are being laid off.
Like Mary and Martha, we may wonder: Didn’t Jesus hear our prayer?. Surely, Jesus could swoop down here like a superhero and just take care of it. We may feel kind of helpless, not knowing what we can do or when this will end.
The bubonic plague, also called the “Black Death,” killed somewhere between a third and half of the population of Europe in the 1300s. It re-emerged in the 1500s. Many people at the time thought the plague was caused by “bad air” – and so they fumigated their homes. Others, assuming that it was caused by the wrath of God, tried to “prove their faithfulness” by refusing to take medicine, saying that they would rely only of the power of God. In the midst of all of the suffering, fear and anxiety, a fellow pastor wrote to Luther asking what was a faithful Christian to do? Specifically, he asked, “whetherone may flee from a Deadly Plague"”? Here’s Luther’s response:
"I shall ask God mercifully to protect us.
Then I shall fumigate, help purify the air, administer medicine and take it. I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.
If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me and I have done what he has expected of me and so I am not responsible for either my own death or the death of others.
If my neighbor needs me however I shall not avoid place or person but will go freely as stated above.
See this is such a God-fearing faith because it is neither brash nor foolhardy..."1
Luther’s advice is amazingly timely. Translating into today’s language and time, and taking into account what we now know about how viruses like Covid 19 spread, Luther’s first recommendation would be the same:
“Ask God mercifully to protect us”
The second – Since we know this virus spreads by germs that land on surfaces, would be to wash our hands – often - and sanitize our homes, steering wheels, the groceries that we buy and other hard surfaces that we touch and others have touched. Give and take medicine that doctors have prescribed – but not “miracle cures” that we find on the internet.
Third – Martin Luther said, “I shall avoid places and persons where my presence is not needed in order not to become contaminated and thus perchance inflict and pollute others and so cause their death as a result of my negligence.” This is the basis of the “stay at home” policy. Avoid getting sick so that we don’t overwhelm the hospitals and medical staff.
Forth – Luther said, “if a neighbor needs me, however, I shall not avoid place or person”. Some of us – especially medical people – but also grocery stores, pharmacies and your pastor will remain open and available as needed.
Like Luther, we do not need to fear dying from the plague, or from the corona virus because, as Luther so rightly said, “If God should wish to take me, he will surely find me.” So, like Luther let us live our lives as responsibly as possible, taking every care but not being afraid or anxious because, ultimately, our life is in God’s hands. And the best news is that through Jesus, God has given us the promise of eternal life – with him.
When Jesus showed up at Mary and Martha’s house – four days too late to heal Lazarus – he did not answer the many questions of “why” weren’t you here? “Why didn’t you heal Lazarus”? Why did you let him die?
Instead, he revealed himself to Martha, and to us, saying, “I AM the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.”This is the Good news for us too. Jesus proclaims eternal life to us and for us… even in our sorrow…our anxiety and our fear.
And Jesus shares in all of our sorrows. When gathered with Mary and Martha and the mourners at Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus was moved by compassion to tears. Jesus felt their pain – and Jesus feels our pain. When we cry out in sorrow and grief, Jesus is with us, weeping too.
This is very good - but it’s not the end of the story. Jesus surprised everyone by calling Lazarus back to life here on earth– ordinary life - and then calling the people around him, to “Unbind him” and let him go.
Brothers and sisters – as I look out onto an empty sanctuary… thinking and praying for all of you, I yearn and I know you yearn, to be called back into “ordinary life,” too. We hope and pray for a quick return to life without the fear of the corona virus infecting us and those that we love.
And that day will come. In the meantime, I urge you to trust in God even in the midst of the challenges that come our way. Jesus isn’t going to come like a super hero flying down to magically heal all of our ills but Jesus will not disappoint us. For we know the end of the story… and it is good.
Jesus brings us both resurrection and life – ordinary life now – and one day eternal life with Jesus forever. THIS is Good News. THIS is the promise God that, in Christ has given and it is given for you. Thanks be to God. Amen.
Pastor Pam Stalheim Lane
Faith-Lilac Way Lutheran Church
Sermon for Sunday, March 29,2020
1~ Martin Luther. From Martin Luther, Works v. 43, p. 132. Letter "Whether one may flee from a Deadly Plague" written to Rev. Dr. John Hess.