The Easter Surprise - John 20:1-9
~ Sr. Kathy Carpenter, Walsenburg, Colorado
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As you might imagine, Mary of Magdala did not sleep well after witnessing the horrors of the sights and sounds of the crucifixion. The long night of constant flashing images tore at her heart. The one she loved, ate with and cared for was now dead and buried. She tried hard that night to trust that what happened to Jesus was all about what he said would happen. But this trust still was clouded by emotional grief combined with a thread of hope.
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She was up very early and wanted to finish the burial ritual for Jesus. Finding the tomb empty, her heart was shattered, and great fear clouded her thinking. What? When? Where did they take him?
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Easter is about believing that Jesus fulfilled the Hebrew teachings and did what he predicted – rise from the dead, proving he was the Son of God. For us, this is also the journey from doubt to faith. It is our hope in times of despair.
The transformative power of the Resurrection opens our hearts to see and live all that Jesus taught – the Beatitudes, the two Great Commandments, care for the sick, help the displaced, feed the hungry, and his list goes on. In other words – “Do what I do.”
This Easter challenges us to recognize the signs of new life in our own experiences, to appreciate the contributions of all individuals in our faith journey, and to trust in God’s promises even amidst doubt.
