Rev. Jeff Jones

For the past several Sundays we have livestreamed our worship service on our Facebook page.

The format is ironic, at least for me, because the one thing missing from these services is faces.

It would be difficult to describe the strangeness of going from a sanctuary populated with serious and joyful faces to one with an I-Pad camera. Preaching to a camera is simply weird. I'm trying to act normal. I don't know if I'm succeeding.

I do know that I miss seeing my flock, seeing their faces. I know how Paul felt when he told the Philippians, “For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus” or when he told Timothy, “I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.”

Please do not misunderstand. Gratitude is the appropriate response for technology that in God's providential grace allows us to broadcast worship and stay connected. This is good and should be lovingly used for the glory of God and the strengthening of our congregations and communities.

But, it is not the same as being together face to face. That is how God created us. We are designed for relationship, for community and for the fellowship of love.

Many of us have experienced this in the shared love of Christ within His church. So, it is difficult to be apart, even if we are joined for worship through the internet.

Perhaps there are two lessons to be drawn.

First, we need to be more aware of and more appreciative of all those faces we encounter.

This is another way of saying we need to be more appreciative of all those human beings we encounter. We need to see them. We need to focus on them. We need to love them.

They are each made in the image of God. And Christ died for them.

We have been reminded by this pandemic and social distancing that each person matters and that we had taken one another for granted. So, when it is over and we come forth from our caves, let us begin to see one another as if for the first time.

Secondly, let us realize that if we are created to live face to face with others, then that is because we are created to know God face to face. Right now, this virus separates us from each other. In the same way, the virus of sin separates us from God.

As we long to be with one another face to face again, let us long for the time when we will be face to face with God. As Paul said, “Now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.”

What a joy it will be when this crisis is over and we can see one another again.

What a joy it will be when we see the glory of God in fullness.

What a joy it will be to meet Jesus face to face.

The Rev. Jeff Jones is the pastor of Harmony Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Harrisville.