I feel a bit “disconnected” to be sharing online reflections on this great feast. I’m accustomed to the personal contact that comes when proclaiming the Gospel and preaching at Broadway United Methodist Church, my Dignity/Chicago home, which always inspires and energizes me.

But as I started reflecting on what I could offer that meets the measure of this most important moment of our faith, I remembered a quote from a book I’ve been highly recommending, A Pilgrimage to Eternity, by Timothy Egan, who in his reflections on faith and life’s challenges quotes a young Lutheran pastor who declares in an Easter homily: “Nothing can keep my love in a grave.”

How poignant and stirring is this declaration as we experience unprecedented loss at this time, this Easter 2020. With how many different types of “hearing” does this declaration impact us at this time of existential suffering and separation? How hopeful is it to hear the voice of God in Jesus proclaiming to us: my love can never be contained in this world, in any way at all. Unless we believe it can be.

We know from our faith tradition that the earliest witness of the resurrected Christ was that the “tomb is empty”, and then in time, “he is risen”. These heartfelt statements were the energy and driving force of what became a “resurrected” community. For as Jesus rose in his glorified form, so did his circle of disciples and believers.

These statements rang true immediately, clearly and authentically. Even amid centuries of patriarchal “blinders” in the interpretation of scripture and the ordering of the Church, the truth could not and would not be contained; it was a woman, Mary of Magdala, who was the first witness of the resurrection. Her voice, the least likely in the ordered society of the day, who was chosen by the risen Christ to be a joyful and affirming witness to a fragmented and isolated community of believers. 

The early disciples had indeed “quarantined” themselves out of fear, confusion and disappointment. They only ventured out because of the good news of Jesus’ rebirth into glory, changing the world and their futures forever. A bit slowly at the beginning, as John’s Gospel portrays, but as we’ll witness during the Easter Season, the strength and conviction of the newly “raised” community of believers allows its faith, hope and trust to explode into a world so desperately in need of healing, much like today.

We might be feeling “entombed” these days as we “shelter in place” and practice “physical distancing.” Yet it is the message of Easter that love can’t ever be contained, nor faith or trust in ourselves, or one another, or God’s intent for us.

It is essential for us these days to include in the spaces of our hearts the sense that our identities, hopes and dreams can’t be contained by a virus. Our aspiration for a better and brighter and more just future is not contained nor is diminished.

The path forward in this unique time and experience, in reality, has been our DignityUSA path all along the way, for over 50 years now as a national movement and voice. The path that continues today and takes us forward is the same: working for full and meaningful inclusion of all within God’s Church; raising up and celebrating the unique gifts of all the faithful; providing spiritual homes (virtual or in-person) and places of safety and nurturance; and never stepping back from our work of reconciling a divided and self-interested society into one cohesive People of God.

The energy and vision that grew a dynamic movement we call Dignity was fueled by a similar proclamation: the tomb of fear and darkness that we once carried within us is empty. Each of us is now risen to claim our identities, lives and loves. Our truth and courage set us free and we have forever claimed our space and truth in our Church and in our society.

But as usual, we still have work to do, especially now.

We have the unique opportunity during this particular Easter Season to take our experience of our own community’s resurrection and healing into our immediate surroundings. To take our interactions and connections (even virtual) to a new level; feeling more comfortable with sharing our faith and our understanding of where we find God in this crisis. To tell our own resurrection stories. To witness to the freedom that comes with claiming one’s truth and fostering that freedom in others who see only darkness.

These are the words that we adopt as our own this Easter Season, 2020: “Nothing can keep my love in the grave.” We are an Easter people who are freed and renewed and re-energized in the shining presence of the Risen Christ who is the beacon of our shared hope. Be not afraid nor constrained nor silent during these dark days.

Let us pray for those around us who are directly impacted by COVID-19. Let us pray for the continued safety and well-being of the medical professionals, first responders, and others on the frontline of “essential” services whose courage and commitment inspire us daily.

Let our faith and trust in Resurrection be our guide and comfort as we journey through this difficult Easter Season.

Let us all, the DignityUSA extended community, be the Easter people we are called to be.