Easter, our shared humanity

John Donne (1572-1631) was the dean of St Paul’s Cathedral at the time of the Great Plague.

He decided to remain with his people and did not leave London.

Inevitably, he caught the plague and lay at death’s door for many months.

During that time, he wrote some of the deepest meditations and spiritual exercises in the history of Christian literature.

He wrote,“How can we rise in worship to God when we are nailed to our beds?

“How can we rise to higher levels when global society is chained by this universal illness?”

Yet that is precisely what has happened.

During these demanding days, we see people rising to higher levels of care and service.

But Donne also wrote another epic piece, a message so relevant for today.“No man is an island entire of itself. Every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main. Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind.

“Therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls, it tolls for thee.”

Donne is speaking from his generation to our present crisis. One simple sentence is pregnant with meaning,“I am involved in mankind.”

Our entire nation, more the global family, is involved in this crisis.

The correct conduct of an individual reduces the risk.

The wrong behaviour increases the danger.

People may die. The sick patient and the health worker, nurse or doctor. Members of the public who are supporting others. The volunteer group helping distribute food and essential supplies and others offering counselling and advice.

Donne is right.

Any person’s death is my bereavement, anyone’s health is my strength. Because we are all involved in our shared humanity.

Let me repeat a story I used a few weeks ago.

It was the incident about

Christo Brand, who was the warder guarding Nelson Mandela on Robben Island.

Winnie Mandela had smuggled into the prison Mandela’s latest grandchild, against all the rules of the prison.

Brand took the child from Winnie Mandela and placed it in the arms of its grandfather.

In that 45 seconds of humanity, all three people were changed.

Brand used a new power – the power of a human being rather than that of a guard.

Winnie Mandela displayed the essential love and care of womanhood.

And Nelson Mandela defied his captivity and became free.

In the same way, God’s Easter on the Cross and Emptied Tomb changes our humanity.

So let us bring the encouraging message of Easter into our present dilemma.

For instance, we are in strict isolation.

With churches and chapels now closed, let our home be our place of worship.

Let us lift up to God our local hospital with its doctors and nurses.

Let us remember our own street and neighbourhood.

Let us offer prayers for the social workers and carers, the shop attendants and pharmacists.

Remember Milton’s line.“He also serves who only stands and waits.”

Take your requests and prayers to the eternal God of Easter as if your life depended on it. Because the nation’s life does depend on it.

Jesus prayed for his nation,“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, how I would have gathered you to myself, but you would not. (Matthew 23.37)”

Come near to the eternal God with a yearning in your soul and a depth in your feelings for the many families suffering twice over in their loss.

The loss of a loved one, a health worker, but a loss sharpened and deepened because there was inadequate protection.

The grieving family whose grief is exacerbated that no proper funeral ceremony was possible.

Pray with the passion Jesus expressed in Gethsemane’s black garden.

Because the Easter Jesus is in our shared humanity.

To our grief, Jesus brings comfort.

In our pain, Jesus heals.

In our loss, Jesus restores.

Jesus knows how we feel.

You may not consider yourself religious. That doesn’t matter. Just take your situation where you are to the Lord.

‘Come unto me and I will give you rest’(Matthew 11.28)