Easter Monday Reflection

Easter Monday

MT 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guards went into the city and told the chief priests all that had happened. The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel; then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’ And if this gets to the ears of the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.

And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.

Reflection

After the women found the empty tomb, it says they were fearful yet overjoyed. Do you ever feel like that? Times where you feel such an intense range of emotions and half seem to contradict the other. It reminds me of the morning of my wedding day. The day I had dreamed about, planned for and longed for had finally arrived. As I stood at the back of the church waiting to walk down the aisle I was hit with the weight of the commitment set before me and at the same time filled with the joyful anticipation of finally being one with the love of my life. My stomach was filled with butterflies and my hands were clamped tightly around my bouquet. My dad took my arm and we walked slowly to the altar. When my now husband reached out and took my hand, a wave of peace came over me. His presence calmed every nerve. It was knowing that he was in this with me and I was not alone, that changed everything.

This could have been a similar experience for Mary Magdalene and the other Mary. They knew this day was coming, Jesus foretold it. But when it actually came they were shocked and probably thought: “Could this really be happening?” Can you imagine being told after witnessing such a brutal crucifixion of your beloved teacher and friend that he had risen from the dead!

“Fearful, yet overjoyed”. 

That mix of intense emotion, you just don’t know what to do with. And what does Jesus do? “He meets them.” He gives the gift of his presence. In such an intense moment, he gives himself to them. I can just imagine the comfort and consolation this would have given these women. He doesn’t say much, but being present to them was probably enough to give them the peace and courage to go tell the others. Jesus longs to encounter you today too. He longs to give us the gift of his presence, to meet you wherever you are at, just as Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encountered the Risen Jesus in the midst of their grief, sorrow, joy, and confusion. He comes to you today and says, “Do not be afraid.”

Will you let him in?

Jesus help me accept your presence in my life today. Help me accept the joy and peace that only you offer.