The Church Is Everywhere: Keeping Your Distance 28

The church is not a building.

The church is everywhere.

The spirit of love lies in each and every one of us.  Whether we meet in one building or not, we can still pray.  We can still worship.  We can still be the hands and feet of Christ.  We can still love.

Some day, we can re-open our building and worship together again.  That day is not today.  Love compels us to keep ourselves and our community safe.

From today's liturgical readings, First Peter 3:13-17

Now who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good? But even if you do suffer for doing what is right, you are blessed. Do not fear what they fear, and do not be intimidated, but in your hearts sanctify Christ as Lord. Always be ready to make your defense to anyone who demands from you an accounting for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and reverence. Keep your conscience clear, so that, when you are maligned, those who abuse you for your good conduct in Christ may be put to shame. For it is better to suffer for doing good, if suffering should be God's will, than to suffer for doing evil. 

Do what is good.  And for now, that means not meeting in your building, but meeting in your spirit.  Do what is right in containing the speed of this virus.  Do what is needed to support those in need, those who have been made vulnerable by the lack of support from the government in providing the safety net they need to stay sheltered.  Do what you can to fill the gap left by employers who are calling to work essential employees, including those who are vastly underpaid for what they do, or are inadequately protected from risk.

When Anne Frank and her family were hidden in an attic, it did not stop their faith.  It did not stop their prayer.  It did not stop their hope that there were good and decent people in the world.  It did not stop them from worship. 

When the world tries to pull your faith away, you cling to it all the more.  When the storms come, you do not take off your raincoat.  You hug it to you all the more.

Soon and very soon, we will be together again physically. 

But spiritually?

We are already there, my friends.

And no one can pull us apart.