Easter Hope

At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 

While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words.

Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened. (Luke 24:1-12)

We living ones are among the dead. That’s where we can be found.  Many of us are dead in spirit having abandoned our faith in favor of that which seems more satisfying, especially that which gives us instant gratification.  We who live with the spirit of Christ and faithfully follow him even up to our deaths, truly live.  

No stones block our intentions to be with him and be guided by him.  When we are handed over to sinners to be crucified by the evil behavior of our persecutors, we remember Jesus’ words, and we are comforted.  He raises us up from despair and gives us hope we will rise as well.

Deacon David Pierce