The Awakening of Faith and Humanity

AFP/ANDREAS SOLARO

Pope Francis blesses attendees as he celebrates Easter Sunday Mass on April 12, 2020 behind closed doors at St. Peter\'s Basilica in The Vatican, during the lockdown aimed at curbing the spread of the COVID-19 infection, caused by the novel coronavirus.

The road to death is a long march beset with all evils, and the heart fails little by little at each new terror. The bones rebel at each step. The mind sets up its own bitter resistance. And to what end? — Katherine Porter in her novel ”Pale Horse, Pale Rider” (1939)

Referring to the Book of Revelation 6:8, which describes the appearance of a pale horse that brings death, she describes the condition in facing the Spanish flu pandemic in 1918. Her expression reflects people\'s anxiety in facing the uncertainty and death caused by the pandemic. It is like our current anxiety.

The Covid-19 pandemic is like a way of the cross to humanity, hard, but it must be endured. The pandemic has also become a lonely Saturday. The churches are silent without the movement of the worshipers. There are no melodious songs. No passionate sermons are heard. Just being sad. To what end? That is our question too, gazing at the flames of hope on the day of the Lord\'s resurrection.

That is also the central message of the resurrection celebration on Easter Sunday. Simple actually.

In the light of faith, it is believed that at the end of the long way of the cross there is resurrection. That is the hope that gives meaning to suffering. That is also the central message of the resurrection celebration on Easter Sunday. Simple actually.

Also read: Use Easter as Momentum for Reconciliation

Nobody saw Jesus rise. There are only stories about an empty tomb and also stories of sightings. However, there are stories of Jesus that framed the resurrection as an event of faith. After driving the merchants out of the Temple, Jesus said, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up again." (John 2:19).

KOMPAS/JUMARTO YULIANUS

Catholics in Banjarmasin light candles during the Easter Vigil Mass which is broadcast live from the Holy Family Cathedral Church, Banjarmasin, South Kalimantan, Saturday (11/4/2020) night.

The resurrection of Jesus, as an event of faith, becomes a flame of hope that is worthy of celebration, even though still with notes. First, the victory must be passed with suffering as purification. Second, the victory is spiritual, not physical.

Resurrection of faith

Does faith experience suspended animation during the pandemic? Apparently not. Pew Research Center, United States, offered evidence. In research published in October 2020, it shows that at least 28 percent of believers in the US feel their faith has been strengthened by the pandemic. This number is greater than the followers of religions in other countries.

Also read: Reactualization of the Charm of Religion

A growing faith, in the teachings of Jesus, means a more personal relationship with God. Humans increasingly let God reign in him. The parable of God knocking at the door to enter and eat with us (Revelation 3:20) summarizes the contents of Christian faith.

Eating with God is eternal Easter. However, to enable humans to listen to the knocking of the coming God, they need to concentrate and reduce the divide. That is purification. That is the way of the cross of life.

Revelation 3:19 says, “Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be earnest and repent. “

In reality, faith rests in the heart and in the quiet room itself, not in the cheerfulness of the celebration.

The emptiness at the place of worship is a purification of faith. In reality, faith rests in the heart and in the quiet room itself, not in the cheerfulness of the celebration.

The house of God is not only in the church, but in the depths of the soul as well. With the pandemic, God has increasingly been seen as a wise Father. He is not just hugging, comforting, protecting and forgiving. He is a loving Father, precisely because "rebukes and chastens" us.

Also read: Resurrection is the Manifestation of a Civilization of Love

That is the purification of faith, which refers to the resurrection hope. The resurrection event offers a new temple, not a stone temple, but a spiritual temple. After being purified by the pandemic, it is proper that a personal relationship with God no longer has the motives of wealth, power, even pride, let alone the guise of greed.

Awakening of humanity

The pandemic is not a punishment from God, but a way of purification. The pandemic has not only sharpened faith but also refined humanity. That is also the opinion of many believers in seeing the pandemic as "portrayed" by the Pew Research Center.

With the pandemic, humans are increasingly learning to share because they realize that they cannot live alone. With the pandemic humans learn about moderation because greed is destroying the Earth.

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

The Jakarta Cathedral Church held a Good Friday Mass which was broadcast live via television stations, Friday (10/4/2020).

The celebration of God\'s resurrection takes on deeper meaning. He who is spiritually resurrected reminds people of real life. As a way, truth, and life (John 14: 6) He provides guidelines and becomes an example of how to live life.

The foundation of life is sukma (spirit), not soul, let alone body. Sukma is the pedestal of happiness, while the body is only the pedestal of pleasure.

Does this mean that the body and soul do not need to be guarded? Not really.

In a post-resurrection sighting, Jesus once asked for side dishes for breakfast (John 21:5). He indirectly said that taking care of the body is necessary, provided that it is in proportion.

The spiritual horizon does not only give meaning to physical things, but also remind humans not to be confined by worldly pleasures.

Therefore, the humanity that rises with Jesus is a spiritual humanity, which always embraces the sukma in all its movements. Human who embraces the sukma is human who can live modestly, who see the presence of God in others, who see that all that are on the earth are brothers and sisters. He is always grateful in his heart. He always cares. He continues to share.

Spiritual humans

As humans who put sukma first, one day we will be able to welcome the arrival of a white horse with its rider, instead of a pale horse that carries death (Revelation 6:8), which will judge us (Revelation 19:11-16).

KOMPAS/RADITYA HELABUMI

Jakarta Archbishop Ignatius Kardinal Suharyo delivers a homily (mass sermon) while leading the Easter Sunday Mass at the Jakarta Cathedral Church, Sunday (12/4/2020).

In Katherine Porter\'s expression at the end of her novel, as spiritual people we say, “No more war. No more plague. Only the dazed silence that follows the ceasing of the heavy guns. Noiseless houses with the shades drawn. Empty streets, the dead cold light of tomorrow. Now there would be time for everything.”

Yes, let us do something as spiritual humans, in the spirit of God\'s resurrection. Happy Easter!

Al Andang L Binawan, Lecturer at Driyarkara School of Philosophy, Jakarta

(This article was translated by Hyginus Hardoyo).