Going On Ahead

Now after the Sabbath, toward the dawn of the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. And for fear of him the guards trembled and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has risen, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and behold, he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him. See, I have told you.” So they departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came up and took hold of his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.”
While they were going, behold, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests all that had taken place. And when they had assembled with the elders and taken counsel, they gave a sufficient sum of money to the soldiers and said, “Tell people, ‘His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ And if this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story has been spread among the Jews to this day.
Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. Matthew 28:1-16

Today is a pretty exciting travel day for me, the first time I will be traveling since my surgery. I am also a little anxious and feeling tenuous, since it will be my first time traveling any distance alone, and am worried that I am not strong enough to make this trip. I know it will be fine, but there is still some fear and trembling as I go.

This first week of Easter season, we rehearse over and over again the events of that first Easter morning. We hear of fearful people all, from the women, the disciples and the guards. None of this was what they expected. This new life, this Resurrection had some getting used to. They had heard the words but they had to live into it. They were eventually fine but there was still much fear and trembling as they started out to meet up with Jesus. We are only human and it takes time to live into a whole new life.

I ask God for traveling mercies for us all. We are all on a journey of faith, a walk full of fear and trembling. We take one step at a time hoping to meet our Savoir as we go. None of us feels completely secure, none of us is always sure, none of us likes traveling alone with a trembling heart. May God provide us all with traveling mercies, with good companions along the way and visions of God's love where ever we might find ourselves.