Terror and Amazement - Easter 2018

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices,

so that they might go and anoint Jesus. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had

risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us

from the entrance to the tomb?” When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large,

had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe,

sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking

for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they

laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see

him, just as he told you.” So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had

seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. Mark 16:1-8


The miracle of new life is amazing and terrifying. When things happen that we do not expect, when an
 underdog beats the champion, when the ferocious bear of life backs off - we are both amazed and fearful.
Life doesn't usually turn around, the dead don't usually rise and the weak are still left by the wayside. Yet,
here we are and it's Easter, the day when the usual is broken and stood on it's head. God declared strength
for the weak and hope for the overlooked, healing for those who have given up and new life for those who
only knew death. This day changes everything.

The women come to the tomb early in the morning to do the necessary tending to the body of their friend.
He had been whisked away and laid in a new tomb by a secret follower, but there was still the ritual
washing that needed to happen. And they were used to doing this for those whom they loved. Their
hearts were broken and their spirits shattered in this loss. Their hope was gone. What they encountered
would forever change them and all of us. And their first honest reaction to this absolutely freaky,
wondrous and amazing moment was complete horror and amazement. God is doing and new thing here
and now and we are invited get real and rejoice in the terror and fear we feel. We are invited to new joys 
and the new scary possibilities we will encounter.


Today, I ask God to help me be overhwlemed with the joy of new life and new possibilities. May we be
those, who despite the fears we have, know that we are given new life every day, with all the terror and 
joy that brings. May this be the Easter when we are risen with Jesus! Alleluia!