Disbelief

Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment. But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, ‘Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.’ Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. Luke 23:56-24:11

They were weeping as they went to the tomb, carrying the oil and spices for his final burial preparation. Whispering and crying, doing their duty, these women went out of love and duty to their friend's burial site. They were careful since there were guards and soldiers milling around. Imagine how they felt when his body was not there and imagine their terror when the angels appeared. The angels reminded them of Jesus' words, and they ran to tell the disciples the exciting news, only to be told they were making things up and out of their minds. Everyone was doing what they thought right and expected, and they were all wrong. The disciples would believe the women only after their own encounters with the risen Jesus. We live in a world of acceptable lies and half-truths. Yet, we are called to live with hope, live with undeserved joy, live with love despite the world's cruelty. That joy of that first Easter morning is ours to have, day by day, as we believe.

Loving Creator, you show your truth to us

to small children with eyes wide open

to brokenhearted women doing their chores

and to the blind and broken who reach out to you.

We are all skeptics now not believing anyone

we think it is made up or generated by AI

we forget how you love us even here and now

and scream in the night while fears overwhelm.

Help us be like the women at the tomb

who despite their deep pain carried the news

they carried your love and hope again

and called the disciples to seek anew. Amen.