What does denial of death mean in this case?
The short answer is possibly found in an effort to preserve life “at all cost”. This sounds like a diatribe against the biological instinct to survive, but it is not. Whatever preventive strategies that have been rolled out, it feels as if we have just discovered the unpleasantness of death and not only that; it suggests that death by Covid is the most tragic catastrophe to befall a person. The valid observation is, letting go of earthly existence is not easy because we stand to lose everything. For example, if we were not afraid of being forgotten, then why do leaders go through great length to build monuments to memorialise them by? Why were the Twin Towers built? Everyone is afraid of being forgotten. But that is not the worst. More than anything else is an implied fear that beyond death, there is nothing. Policy or technology can only do that much in this mortal pursuit to postpone death or prolong life. In other words, quarantine or vaccination can only stave off death but never prevent it. We may put off death but never rule it out.
This natural fear of death is a situation which can be addressed by the appearance of the Lord today. What characterises the post-Resurrection state of the disciples is the struggle of grief, confusion, fear, and uncertainty. The two disciples on the road to Emmaus were dispirited. In their anguish, there was nothing to hold them back in Jerusalem. But it was not as if those who stayed back fared better. In fact, they behaved like vanquished soldiers who did not know what else to do—when blanketed by sorrow, one is prone to paralysis.
The post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus which confirm that there is life after death are also acts wherein death is denied. Unlike the Covid-craze of attempting to preserve life at all cost, this is a denial which is in tandem with the Easter message—that death is temporary. On the 3rd day, He rose again. This is our credal formula.
The love with which Christ submits to death, has transformed death as failure to death as triumph, from death as evil to death as a good or a gateway of eternity. If anything, Covid should be a compelling memento mori. If Peter fleeing his own execution ran surprisingly into the Risen Christ entering Rome, asked of the Lord, “Quo vadis, Domine?” (“Where are you going, Lord?”), then Covid is our Quo vadis, a timely reminder that the post-Resurrection appearances of Jesus is our reckoning, a chance for us to open the window of our hearts, the doors of our Churches so that fear may escape, and firm faith may enter—we are on a pilgrimage from fear to faith.
Despite severe restrictions, we have never stopped celebrating the Eucharist. We did have two brief periods of interruption, but we quickly returned to a regular albeit scaled down schedule. Over the period of Holy Week and Easter, we did turn people away though it was not from the lack of capacity as it was from the unfortunate congestion of timing. It was the sad and difficult situation of too many wanting to attend at the same time even though we did provide extra services to accommodate those who had wanted to come. The consideration here is that people are still staying away from the actual celebration of Masses preferring the comfort and convenience of virtual spectatorship of the Eucharist from a distance.
Capacity is not a problem we face. Fear is. We have yet to count the cost of this pandemic. Unfortunately and more so for us living next to a huge financial hub. We calculate in terms of the economic losses forgetting that we also have a rise in cases of mental illness, anxiety and domestic violence. All these factor into our attitudes, behavioural patterns and decision makings.
That we die has never been a taboo for man until this pandemic surfaced. We had carried on with life even though we were embraced by the fact of death. If anything, this pandemic has corralled us willingly into a prison of fear. This incarceration may soon result in procedures or protocols which will, if unchallenged or unchecked, take a form which is not unrecognisable—a tyranny in the name of the common good. Forced vaccination and vaccination passports are two good examples of seeming public interest. As it is, public good is already the principle dictating our social conventions as our everyday freedom has been stealthily surrendered under the auspices of returning to “normalcy”.
It is a sad sounding sermon
which does not seem to synchronise with the spirit of the season. The other day
I got a call from a lady who, for all intents and purposes, have not gone out
since MCO1.0. I offered to bring Holy Communion for her and her sister, but she
refused for fear of contagion. Is that living or life imprisonment? By no means were these two sisters the only ones.
Brothers and sisters, we are at a crossroad for the fog of fear hangs heavily over us. The thing is, whether we like it or not, death is a portal we must go through. The only passport we need to carry in order to enter eternal life is faith. Hence, Jesus Christ the Lord entered into the confusion of the disciples behind the closed door of despair to strengthen their faith. Jesus coming into their midst is a timely reminder for us. These few post-Resurrection encounters with Jesus can help us see that in Him, eternal life is stronger than death. God’s love revealed in Jesus Christ gives us the strength to hope for the fullness of life in the Kingdom. Covid or otherwise, death is simply a reminder that God’s reign is not yet fully present—the Resurrection is. It is faith that makes present the eternal life which the Resurrection of Jesus Christ has won for us. Therefore, be not afraid.
