Do Not Be Alarmed

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 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 16:1-20

The women went to the tomb to anoint Jesus' body. His burial had been hasty and away from the prying eyes of Roman soldiers and religious leaders. They wanted to do right by him and so went out before dawn, hidden from sight, to finish their ritual cleansing and anointing. To say it was chaos for them is an understatement. Their world had been shattered; their beloved teacher ripped from them. Yet they still wanted to perform this final act of love and devotion. Their world was shattered again when the tomb was filled with angelic presence telling them that Jesus was alive. How could they not be alarmed? How could they not be afraid? Like them, we are human and shattered by deep loss and sudden changes. None of us deal well when are world is turned upside down. Yet, they went to the tomb despite all their fear and hurt and they were the first to witness the resurrection. May we who grieve and are afraid this day, remember that we are surrounded by angels and new life is blooming in ways we cannot yet even imagine.

Gracious Creator, you sent your Son among us

he journeyed, lived and ate at table with them

and he continues to journey and be at table with us.

We are surrounded by so much fear and disease

the world seems dark with no light ahead of us

yet you break through even death to bring life again.

Help us Lord, to seek you in the darkest times

trusting that there is more for us despite such loss

and you will give us the strength to love once again. Amen.