Thoughts for the Day

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

My diary starts each week on a Sunday! It does not make Monday the first day of the week! The events of that Easter day in the city of Jerusalem all those years ago were so stupendous that the Christian calendar was to commemorate the Resurrection of Jesus as the first day of the week.

The two Mary's - Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses (Mark 15.47) had been part of the group of women who had stood by the cross during Jesus' last hours. They were also present when Joseph of Arimathea placed the body of Jesus in the tomb on the Friday evening. Now that the Jewish sabbath is over they have returned to anoint his body with spices and oils. Their faithfulness stands out against that of the disciples who forsook their Lord.

So it is to the women, that the risen Jesus appears. Matthew says a hurricane and an angel occurs - and the soldiers are terrified. The Gospels tell slightly different stories and we should remember that they were written many years later, but all agree that it was the women who were the first to know of the Resurrection. It was not enough though, to hear the news from the angel, they were also to see the open but empty tomb and the reaction of the guards. Finally, Jesus himself appears to them and reiterates the message of the angel to "Go and tell" the disciples that he has risen.

This is the message that each of us must take to others - "The Lord has risen!"

Christus Rex -
Christ the King,
You reign in Glory
having defeated death,
and we worship You
as our Prophet, Priest and King.
May we continually shout
"The Lord is risen:
He has risen indeed!"
Amen.