CoronaVirus has limited our activities in so many ways, as individuals, families, and as a church. Yes, the good news is that God has shown us how to be Jesus’ people despite the pandemic. Yes, we have learned new skills in this time that we can take into the post-pandemic future. Yes, this crisis has put a lot of things into perspective about our lives. But we should be honest in naming that it has also hindered us. We can’t flourish in the same ways we usually have. And this creates the all-too-human experience of anxiety. In this case, it’s often an anxiety over what we can’t do. So let’s turn to the Bible for guidance!
Writer Michelle J. Morris has been keen to remind us that the Gospel of Matthew has often been called the “go-and-do” gospel. It contains Jesus’ famous “Therefore, go” command (Matthew 28:19a CEB translation). It’s a gospel for people with a kinetic energy…the desire to take off running. She calls these people “Mattheans” because they remind her of Matthew’s emphasis. Maybe you are a Matthean. Maybe you know someone who is. They are “disciples who like for their faith to be expressed in concrete things checked off the list.” When they can’t “therefore, go” their energies can end up being turned in on themselves where they create anxiety.
While there are lots of things for Mattheans to do right now and plenty of churches like ours are doing them, there are Mattheans in vulnerable age groups or with compromised immune systems who are having to constantly remind themselves that the best they they can do to help others is stay home. So the “go-and-do” energy has to redirected to something they can do like checking in with others over the phone or sewing masks. Mattheans have to look to God for some holy creative inspiration to help them through this time.
Morris concludes with good advice for Mattheans:
“Make yourself a list of the things you can do. Focus on that. Check those things off your list and celebrate the new ways we are figuring out to serve our world. Take the actions you can take, and then rest up. There will be much to do on the other side of these isolated days.”