Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ (John 20:1-2)
The scriptures suggest that in spite of what our Lord had said to his disciples concerning his death and resurrection -they did not anticipate them, nor were they prepared for either reality. In the gospel according to Mark we are told that after Jesus was arrested most of his disciples deserted him and fled. Meanwhile, John informs that they were assembled behind locked doors. ·And the gospel lesson selected for Today Easter Day from the gospel according to John, shows Mary Magdalene, Peter and the beloved disciple, at a lost as to what had happened when they saw the empty tomb. The words from the text reveals Mary Magdalene’s thoughts ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ For her grave robbers; someone had carried off the body of her Lord.
According to the passage she informs Peter and the beloved disciple of what she had seen, and they ran to the tomb to see for themselves. When they arrived, they notice the absence of the body and the linen wrapping lying on the ground, and the napkin that had bound Jesus’ face set aside and neatly rolled up. What were they to make of this? An empty tomb? The empty tomb suggests the seeming finality of Jesus’ death. ·
Later in the lesson we are informed that Our Lord appeared to Mary Magdalene and said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”‘ 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Faith in the resurrection emerges from an empty tomb, a seeming finality of Jesus’ death. From a context of great sadness, loss, bewilderment, defeat, hopelessness and disorientation. Mary Magdalene and the disciples tell us that Jesus rose from the dead and he is alive. Death is overcome. Death has no victory. God is the Lord of life. Thus, Easter celebrates a new beginning, the certainty of new life. May we choose this life.
This gives us hope that even though we may go through difficult and trying experiences in life, there is always the avenue of a new beginning. Hope here must not be seen as wishful thinking or blind optimism. Rather as a means of knowing, a means within which new things are possible, opportunities are not shut down. Transformation can take place; new ways of life and circumstances can happen.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ (John 20:1-2)
We sometimes yield to the temptation to resign ourselves to live within the world where evil, sin, injustice and unrighteousness prevails, and to dissociate ourselves from that which is upright, just, pure and holy because of the perceived personal benefits we may receive from wrong doing and from those who choose to be perpetrators and architects of unrighteousness, sin, evil and corruption. Easter calls us to live in a new and different world, to a new kind of faith, to a renewed hope and a new kind of love.
The passion, crucifixion, death and resurrection of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ calls for a refashioning of our lives from within from disloyalty, denial and disobedience to a new and abiding relationship with Jesus Christ, our risen Lord. For Easter emphasizes that a different world view is possible. A worldview in which the powerful, and the unscrupulous, pandemics like Covid-19 and Non Communicable diseases like Cancer, Hypertension, diabetes, heart disease, natur.al disasters-Hurricanes, earthquakes, Volcanic eruptions, Domestic violence, drug and substance abuse and other situations in life which cause us to hurt to suffer and be afraid, do not have the last word. Easter informs us that God has the power to bring about transformation. Newness of life.
As we continue to face this Pandemic Covid -19. In the midst of all the fear, anxiety, uncertainty, closing of schools and colleges for indefinite periods, curfews, states of emergency, lockdown, loss of jobs, economic downturn and collapse in some cases, suspended church services and some forms of mi.1istry, suspension of sporting, cultural and recreational activities. Easter reminds us that there is hope because there is God.
Our Easter faith does not call us to be so heavenly that we are of no earthly use. Neither does it call us to be so earthly that we are of no heavenly use. Easter speaks of a new creation, a new way of life with our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Therefore, as we respond to the Covid-19 pandemic may we follow the protocols from the Ministries of Health and civil authorities and see how best we may help each other particularly the most vulnerable and those who are less fortunate. May we also take responsibility for safeguarding ourselves and our families and households. Let us pray for those who have the responsibility to manage the response to this Pandemic COVID 19. Our Leaders, those in our Health services, those who have contracted the virus, those who are in quarantine, those who have died we also pray for their families and all others who are involved.
The road that lies ahead as we journey along through this pandemic and beyond dema.nds that we receive and accept the new life which Easter offers us. For salvation is not so much about going to heaven but being raised to life in God’s new heaven and new earth. It calls for a collective effort in which we acknowledge our common humanity, our need of each other, that this world belongs to God and that we are a part of God’s creation, and we are to use it and enjoy it as God intends. We are called to be our brothers and sisters’ keepers. Easter calls us to live in a new and different world, to a new kind of faith, to a renewed hope and a new kind of love.
Easter reminds us that even though we may go through difficult and trying experiences in life, there is always the avenue of a new beginning. New things are possible, opportunities are not shut down. Transformation can take place. New ways of life and circumstances can happen.
Faith in the resurrection emerges from an empty tomb, a seeming finality of Jesus’ death. From a context of great sadness, loss, bewilderment, defeat, hopelessness and disorientation. Mary Magdalene and the disciples tell us that Jesus rose from the dead and he is alive. Death is overcome. Death has no victory. God is the Lord of life. Thus, Easter celebrates a new beginning, the certainty of new life. May we choose this life.
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ (John 20:1-2)
I take this opportunity on behalf of my wife Lois, and three daughters, Marcella, Malaika and Mikayla to wish you a Safe and Peaceful Easter.
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! The Lord is risen indeed. Come let us Adore Him. Alleluia!
Your Friend and Bishop
The Rt. Rev’d C. Leopold Friday
Bishop of the Windward Islands