Luke 24:1

Posted by DJL on Apr 1, 2013 in Daily Bread | 0 comments

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared.

Christ is risen! Alleluia!
Alleluia! He is risen indeed!

So goes the traditional Easter acclamation with which Christians have celebrated the resurrection of our Lord for centuries. It gives voice to our faith in and joy at Christ’s triumph over death, the grave, and all that stands between us and eternal relationship with God.

But it was not on the hearts and minds, let alone the lips, of the women as they headed to the tomb that first Easter morning. No. They had no hope of giving voice to anything even resembling faith and joy. Rather, at daybreak on the first day of the week, they walked slowly and sadly to perform one last act of devotion for their beloved Lord.

All they brought with them were the spices they had prepared before the start of Sabbath with which to anoint the dead body of their friend. They did not expect resurrection. They did not expect joy. They did not expect celebration or hope or new life. No. They came looking for death because that is what they had seen on Friday and absolutely everything they had ever known, been taught, or experienced had taught them one thing above all others: death is death, the impassible chasm that no one can cross and the irrevocable fate no one can avoid.

They went to the tomb as we would have gone, with heavy hearts and broken dreams, but also with unshakable confidence that what is done is done. And who can blame them? That has always been the way of the world.

Until now.

Prayer: Dear God, you regularly confound our expectations and surprise us with the power of your love, so remind us that you are the author of all things and that nothing, not even death itself, can stand between you and your intention to redeem and love all creation. In Jesus’ name, Amen.