|
“This is
the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Today, in the company of Christians the world over, we join Mary of
Magdala, Simon Peter, and the disciple whom Jesus loved at the empty
tomb. Like them, we are at first completely astonished! The events are
incomprehensible. What is there for us to see?
Only burial cloths, and the cloth that covered his head, not with the
burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Mary saw this and it
left her frightened. What Peter saw left him confused and uncertain.
Only the beloved disciple saw and immediately believed.
Understand that each of us approaches the empty tomb from our own very
personal perspective. The Lord delivered Mary from many devils and
gave her back her freedom. She did not want a life without him. Peter
had left his boats and nets in order to follow Jesus and go fishing for
people. They entered Jerusalem in triumph and in one week, Jesus was
arrested, Peter denied him three times, the Lord was executed, and now
even his body was missing. Only the beloved disciple recognized that the
empty tomb was not the end but the fulfillment of the Lord’s teaching.
This Easter what issues do you bring to the tomb? Where has your journey
with the Lord taken you?
In the days following the discovery of the empty tomb, Jesus appeared to
his disciples and in many convincing ways he proved to them that was
alive, although it was an all new kind of life! In his glorified body,
the Risen Lord was not always easily recognized. In one account he
journeyed along the road with them and they did not recognize him though
he instructed them in the scriptures. It was only in the breaking of the
bread that they finally knew him. What an important lesson this is for
us today! Jesus does not always appear as we expect him. He may be
younger or older than we think. He may be richer or poorer. He may be a
different color. But we can find him for sure in the breaking of the
bread.
On other occasions Jesus entered the presence of his disciples despite
the door being locked. He showed them his hands and his side and
insisted that they touch him. He prepared a meal and ate with them. It
was so critical that they understand and believe for they were to be his
witnesses to the world. Our faith rests on their faith. And that is the
faith we share with the next generation of followers.
Today in the company of Christians throughout the world, we gather to
rejoice at the empty tomb. Here with the disciples of every
generation let us remember the words from Luke’s gospel, “Why do you
seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, he has been raised.”
|
