Without sounding trivial or oblivious to the tragic side of the pandemic, I look at the positive side of it and cannot help it but think: is a foretaste of what is to come. 

We are experiencing a foretaste of the reign of God over all the earth: When creation is to be redeemed, the environment to be restored, the earth to be renewed, humans to care for each other, and each to work for the benefit of all. 

In its positive side, the pandemic untied people, restored communities, stopped wars in many places, put the lifted ones down, and equated the rich together with the poor. Many of the Greedy mega-businesses are now -on top of their closures- offering free services to the community!

It is a foretaste. 

Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey in an ironic fulfillment of the prophecy of Zechariah (9:9); he gives the city a foretaste of what his kingship will be like. 

As I write my sermon for Palm Sunday and prepare for Holy Week, I look at humanity and see us preparing ourselves, for the first time, to celebrate such bittersweet memories of our Christian tradition. 

We are closer than ever to understanding being under a siege (though this is one we put on ourselves to protect ourselves). We are closer than we ever were to calling and praying for a savior. We understand those first disciples. Like them, we are now living in fear and uncertainty about tomorrow. And we would be shouting “Hosanna” (save us now) this Sunday, but this time, we get it. 

Friends, is it a coincidence that the events of today are happening at such a time in our Christian Church? As a person of faith, I want to say No! God did not bring the Pandemic over us, but will for darn sure use it. So join us in preparation to receive our savior king. It is indeed a foretaste of what God has prepared for God’s children.