28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to look at the tomb. 2 Look, there was a great earthquake, for an angel from the Lord came down from heaven. Coming to the stone, he rolled it away and sat on it. 3 Now his face was like lightning and his clothes as white as snow. 4 The guards were so terrified of him that they shook with fear and became like dead men. 5 But the angel said to the women, “Don’t be afraid. I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. 6 He isn’t here, because he’s been raised from the dead, just as he said. Come, see the place where they laid him. 7 Now hurry, go and tell his disciples, ‘He’s been raised from the dead. He’s going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ I’ve given the message to you.”
8 With great fear and excitement, they hurried away from the tomb and ran to tell his disciples. 9 But Jesus met them and greeted them. They came and grabbed his feet and worshipped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Go and tell my brothers that I am going into Galilee. They will see me there.”
Reflection
Everything about the Resurrection story in Matthew is earth-shattering. There’s a violent earthquake shaking creation, as if announcing the Kin-dom has come. There is a divine messenger proclaiming the impossible, that Jesus has risen from the dead. There are guards, sent by Pilate to secure the tomb, who are terrified to the point of death and unable to act. And the witnesses to the most earth-shattering event to happen in human history are two
women. These are women who were culturally marginalized and viewed as unreliable to even give testimony to what they have seen. But God chose them to see the resurrected, living Christ who spoke to them and told them to tell the disciples to go and meet Jesus in Galilee.
I wonder if I had been there, if I would have believed that Jesus had overcome sin, defeated death and the grave and had risen to new life, if I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes? What would you think if, like the women, you had seen Jesus crucified, dead on the cross and
hastily laid in the tomb? All you hopes and dreams left in tatters and your heart filled with grief and despair. Then you are witness to these extraordinary events and your grief has turned from fear to wonder and finally to joy. The joy of the resurrection doesn’t let us stay outside the empty tomb or clinging to Jesus’ feet in worship. This is joy that must be shared. The resurrection propels us into the world, to go and meet Jesus where ever he calls us to go. Jesus tells us “not to be afraid,” because the good news of the resurrection of Jesus and God’s
love for us, must be shared, by us, with the whole world.
by Jeneene Reduker
For Pondering and Prayer
We are resurrection people! The resurrection was not a one time event, it continues to transform the world. God’s grace continues to call to each of us. God calls us to seek out the broken, to bring healing to the lonely, the lost, to care for the sick, to feed and clothe those in need. We’re entrusted to go into the world and proclaim, “do not be afraid!” We’re called to
love others so that others may know God’s love. We’re called to be earth-shattering, resurrection people who work to shatter systems of injustice, to show kindness and compassion in a world of hatred and cruelty, and to know that with God all things are possible-even victory over sin and death.
Are you living into the earth-shattering possibilities as child of the resurrection? Where is Jesus calling you to meet him so that you can share God’s love with others? Where in your life do you need to not be afraid?
Prayer: Holy and Loving God, help us to live as resurrection people, to go out into the world and meet Jesus where he calls us to share the good news of God’s love with others. And when we are afraid, remind us to put our trust in you. Amen.
