Resurrection, Memory, and Hope by Nicqi Ashwood
In the face of the Covid-19 global pandemic, many are searching for the meaning of life in the faith we confess. With Easter being the most recent holy season for Christians, there is a desire to understand Easter in terms of the hope of Christ’s resurrection. For me, Easter was baptized into Christianity as part of our holy-days’ celebrations; Easter is NOT Christian. But Resurrection is.
Anastasis, that is, the fact of Christ’s resurrection, is at the core of what I understand and confess as a Christian minister. It is the hope of the believer, captured in Jesus’ assurance to the disciples at the Last Supper. Resurrection evokes pictures of anamnesis (memory) with prolepsis (anticipation). It is the great mystery of Christian faith confessed in the Eucharistic hymn – ‘Christ died. Christ is Risen. Christ WILL come again.’ Not only did Christ arise from physical death and promise to return on multiple occasions, but Jesus also effected resurrection miracles for others DURING His earthly ministry. Bodily resurrection in a Covid-19 infested world however, is a little hard to imagine.
Until one digs deeper.
Jesus, in His conversation with the very distraught sisters Martha and Mary at the death of their brother Lazarus, insisted to them, ‘I AM the resurrection and the life! Whoever believes in Me, even if he dies, shall live. And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die.’ Martha’s challenge was to determine whether she believed in Christ’s resurrection-power.
Uhh – Literal, or figurative?
Like Martha, having lost beloved persons to death over the years, I confess to having entertained questions about Christ’s Resurrection power in the face of Covid-19.
If we take Christ’s life-giving actions with Lazarus, Jairus’ daughter, and the widow’s son literally—then resurrection during Covid-19 ought to include the physical possibility of anastasis amidst this deadly virus. Whether on the request of a close family member or out of pure compassion, bringing back to life brought a shift in the emotional and physical circumstances of those who grieved. After reading of 90 and 103 year olds defying the odds by recovering from the virus despite the hypothesis of the elderly comprising the most naturally vulnerable demographic, I am inclined to believe that resurrection is literally possible in this era. One woman even credited God with her change in situation. From death to physical life, for life beyond death; the resurrection miracles of Jesus, as well as those that were effected by others both before and after Jesus’ ministry, invites each of us to appeal to Christ for mercy in a fearful and virus-riddled world. Would that we believers were willing to attempt and realize such great acts of faith in this time!
There is also the literary context of resurrection, such as the increased biodiversity of formerly human-controlled habitats since the imposition of protective measures globally. It is purported that with the reduction of human and human-motivated pollution, nature is being restored and resurrection has already begun in many cities and provinces (see https://www.nature.com/articles/d41586-020-01048-7 and https://947.co.za/articles/2020/03/19/clear-water-dolphins-swans-nature-restoration-amid-coronavirus ). In these cases, resurrection is about the breathing of new life into that which had long been considered dead. Covid-19 thus holds us in that liminal space between death and a new way of life, in much the same way Holy Saturday does. And that may be reason for hope.
Paul’s treatise in 1 Corinthians 15 is also worth noting here. ‘And last of all He appeared to me also, as to one of untimely birth. For I am the least of the apostles and am unworthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God …’ (vv. 8-9a). Should one compare Paul’s old ways with his life after Jesus’ appearance, one might agree that he had undergone resurrection by way of metanoia (turning around/change of ways)—so much so that even his name was changed to reflect the new life he found in Christ. I live in the hope that many will understand the radical transformation encapsulated in 2 Corinthians 5:17, ‘anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun!’ Perhaps to the extent that those who entertained abusive and/or criminal behaviors will experience total metanoia to the extent that humanity—especially women, children, the elderly and vulnerable—will no longer be victims to human rights violations or abuse. That may be wishful thinking rather than potential reality; nevertheless I live and work for the eventuality of such a day.
I believe that that resurrection will bear some scars of the old life, while embracing the total shift that comes with the radical transformation from death into life. Countries may insist on more integrity from their politicians to ensure that it happens ‘Never Again…’ (though that premise and promise has been broken countless times in the past). For some, it may be the valuing of life and family and friendships as being the truly important things in life. Others may determine that it is time to begin anew their profession of the faith we confess, for it is by grace we have been saved, literally (including from Covid-19) and spiritually, through faith.
For me, Covid-19 DOES NOT and shall not have the final say, despite its devastating impact on human mortality. The great mystery of our faith may one day be understood in the future to signify more than the words ‘Christ has died. Christ is risen. Christ will come again.’ It may also encompass the sentiment, ‘Many have died. Even more recovered. The planet lives again’.
For me, resurrection (anastasis) offers both anamnesis and prolepsis – memory and hope.
Through bodily resurrection? Perhaps.
In nature restored – already begun.
Psychological resurrection: possibly. If we draw close to God, reawakening our sensitivities to a higher power instead of the normalcy of yesteryear!
Offering hope for a different tomorrow? Definitely. There is more to come—especially if each of us acts in faith to realize the positive change we dream of experiencing.
Christ is risen, Hallelujah!
The Rev. Nicqi Ashwood is an ordained minister with the United Church in Jamaica and the Cayman Islands. She has been seconded to the World Council of Churches as the Programme Executive for the Just Community of Women and Men. Since the onset of Covid-19, Nicqi also serves as a member of the WCC Covid-19 response team.