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Now here's today's news, discerned differently.

This is the first holy week in Christian history to be observed primarily online.

From live streamed services at the Vatican to video sermons recorded and shared on cell phones.

Christians in Christian churches all over the world are meeting virtually these days. This is a controversial subject.

Some claim that governmental restrictions on worship services are an infringement on religious liberty

and a violation of the separation of church and state. Others disagree, noting that such prohibitions

do not single out religious gatherings, but include

all events at which people could become infected with coronavirus.

Still others claim that church services should be classified as essential functions and allowed

to continue under social distancing guidelines.

I agree with Dr. Albert Moeller and Kelly Shackleford's statement in the Washington Post.

Asking houses of worship to briefly suspend large gatherings is neither hostile toward religion

nor unreasonable in light of the threat.

Rather, this is a time for all of us to exercise prudence over defiance. Love for God and neighbor

demands nothing less. However, my purpose today is not to litigate this issue. Rather it is to

encourage us to reframe social distancing in a way that aligns with this day in Holy Week. You might

respond by noting that the Gospels

do not record any activities of our Lord on the Wednesday before he died. I agree.

Jesus spent the first four nights of Holy Week in Bethany, a suburb east of Jerusalem,

at the home of his friends Mary, Martha,

...