The Resurrection of the Lord

“Who will roll back the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back; it was very large.

The women who come to anoint Jesus’ body are so intent upon their task that they have not thought about the obstacles in their way and are amazed when they discover that the Lord has risen. They came to the tomb in sorrow and uncertainty, but when they left it they are amazed. The folly of the cross has become the boon of the resurrection. Jesus has rolled back the stone of death and opened the entire human race to the rising sun of eternal life. The next time we fail or when we are uncertain, we should remember the glory of Easter. It is always darkest before the dawn.

What are we uncertain about? What expectations keep us from fully appreciating God’s work in our lives? Has God ever failed us or have we failed to see his saving hand even behind the trials of our lives?

O Lord, roll back the stones that block our hearts from you so that we might be open to the rising sun of your love.

Amen.

Holy Saturday, Easter Vigil

Do not be amazed! You seek Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Behold the place where they laid him. But go and tell his disciples and Peter, 
‘He is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you.’

Do not be amazed! What an odd thing to say after the Resurrection, and yet, how appropriate for us to hear. These are not earthly words. They are heavenly ones. They are filled with trust in God’s Providence. The angel is not amazed because he knows God always follows through on His Promises. We on the other hand are amazed because we are human and used to being let down or failing to follow through on a promise. This is not how God thinks or works. His Ways are above our ways and we should be very thankful for that. We should also remember that Jesus went before us to prepare the way to eternal life and now it is up to us to follow in his footsteps. This task is bewildering and frightening to us because it forces us to ask ourselves the following questions:

How can we make ourselves into a living sacrifice for our God and His children? How can we transfigure our lives to God’s Ways? How can we trust God’s Divine Plan when it is obscured by darkness?

O Lord, let us be not amazed that you have gone before us to prepare our way to the heavenly Kingdom.

Amen.