Mark 16:1-8 English Standard Version (ESV)The Resurrection16 When the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. 2 And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. 3 And they were saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?” 4 And looking up, they saw that the stone had been rolled back—it was very large. 5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe, and they were alarmed. 6 And he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen; he is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.” 8 And they went out and fled from the tomb, for trembling and astonishment had seized them, and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.There are two Gospel readings for Easter Sunday. In Mark’s portion, there is a lack of belief and resolve that resonates with me this year. Deep peace only comes after deep pain. Joy eventually returns after mourning - The resurrection of joy celebrated for an entire season b/c a single day isn’t enough. Today is the greatest feast in the Church year. It asks a total re-programming of our way of thinking, priorities, hopes and expectations. It take a process to celebrate the defeat of death. Be reassured and challenged by the fact that the first people (2 women) who heard and saw the empty town, ran away and didn’t talk to anyone about it. Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books or songs alone, but in every bloom of springtime. This is more of the beginning of a new year than January 1st.The resurrection of Christ reveals that death and darkness do not have the final say. No matter how deep your darkness, it will never be too dark for the Light of the Risen Christ to reach - This love will always transcend the weight of our humanity. This is not the end. This is the beginning.The Christ who announced God’s saving & sovereign kingdom; the Jesus who died to exhaust the power of this world’s rule and its rulers and all of our racism, evil, hopelessness, & discord... the Jesus who rose again to be crowned as king of heaven and earth.
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