Obviously the greatest impact of COVID-19 on life in the world today is the
death of thousands of people. Lots of medical researchers and hypothesizers
are trying to figure out the best ways to flatten the curve, to save the
lives of those infected, and to create a vaccine that works.

Another notable result of this pandemic is that many events have had to be
postponed, such as weddings planned for months in advance and funerals that
allow little if any pre-planning. Brides and grooms can be flexible. But
it’s painful to delay the grief process as the world waits for coronavirus
to be brought to its knees.

In the midst of these new but hopefully temporary realities, Holy Week is
upon us. The customary worship experiences of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday,
Holy Saturday, and Easter Sunday are replicated online, from empty
sanctuaries, by small choruses of disbursed voices, softly and remotely
spoken words from Scripture of the life and death of Jesus.

Then, on Easter Sunday morning, the responsive greetings, this year also
spoken remotely: “Christ is risen! He is risen indeed!”

Especially at Easter, those of us who have lost loved ones from this life on
earth cannot help but recall the joys and sorrows, difficulties and
blessings that were fruits of the relationships we experienced with those
dear people. That list includes beloved parents, grandparents, spouses,
children, grandchildren, siblings, aunts, uncles, cousins, in-laws, and dear
friends.

They are gone but not forgotten. At this Eastertide, we give thanks for the
love we shared with them, and they with us, during the times of our
togetherness.

Even more importantly, we look forward to that day of reuniting with them,
of seeing them again, of occupying that immortal, spiritual, imperishable
body of which Paul in 1 Cor. 15 so intriguingly speaks. All because of our
hope and God’s promise of resurrection.

Resurrection. I say that word with conviction when I speak The Apostles
Creed: “I believe in the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting!”
And I speak that belief when I conduct a funeral: “Death is swallowed up in
victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The
sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.  But thanks be to
God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor.
15:54-57)

COVID-19: Where is your sting? Where is your victory? Thanks be to God who
gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ!

~  Rev. Dennis Krueger