On Sunday President Trump announced that the social distancing guidelines he’d hoped could be ended by Easter Sunday would be in effect through the end of April. As a result, Christians in the United States will celebrate the holiest day of the year differently than they ever have – attending worship services virtually, in their homes.

Bishop T.D. Jakes appeared on Monday’s “Your World With Neil Cavuto” to talk about the role of faith leaders during the pandemic. In response to a question about the effect of not being able to attend services on that day, Jakes’ poignant response reminds us that this is an opportunity for all of us to focus on the significance and joy of the day.

"In the beginning there were a few people around the tomb. We don't have to have a crowd to honor the resurrection of Christ…It's a great time to gather your family and have a spiritual moment that's intimate between you and the people you love." https://t.co/t1P1yG0QCg pic.twitter.com/NHIB7rPXb6

— Jennifer Van Laar (@jenvanlaar) March 30, 2020

Jakes said:

You know, I’m so thankful that he kind of walked back on that. I think that the life and the well-being of our flock is far more important than the celebration of the day.

The first Easter service wasn’t crowded either, and it still did not lose its significance for the lack of a crowd. While it’s been our tradition to celebrate it in a flamboyant, celebratory type of way, that is not how it started. In the beginning there were a few people around the tomb. And so we don’t necessarily have to have a crowd to honor the resurrection of Christ in our homes, with our family. It’s a great time to gather your family around you and have a spiritual moment that’s intimate between you and the people that you love. And I don’t think it’s going to lose any of its value just because we’re not able to celebrate it in an opulent, festive way like we normally do on Sunday mornings.

Amen.