Word to the Wise
Monday, April 21, 2014 -
[Acts 2:14, 22-23 and Matthew 28:8-15]Mary Magdalen 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."
The Easter eggs have all been found or else will be found eventually in the bushes or under the furniture! The chocolate bunnies have also found a home in many a groaning tummy. The baskets with the shredded green stuff that gets into everything may have returned to the closets and attics It will all be forgotten till next year! But for people of faith, Easter goes on and this week marks a "solemn octave" in which the event of the resurrection and its aftermath get very particular attention in the scriptures for the day!
Matthew's account of the reaction of the women and the guards to the resurrection makes for good drama! The women, "fearful yet overjoyed," are commissioned by Jesus to be the first preachers of the resurrection message! [Hmmm! Are you listening over there in Rome?] The guards are not only frightened by what happened at the tomb but worried that a tomb may be in their immediate future for failing to prevent the very thing the religious authorities feared! Money seems to have calmed their fears! The appearance of Jesus to the women calms them! Competing stories start to circulate, but the truth has prevailed! CHRIST IS RISEN! Let the world know! AMEN