Seeing the Light

"After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning,

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb.

And suddenly there was a great earthquake;

for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven,

came and rolled back the stone and sat on it."

 ( from John 20:1-18 )

Mary Magdalene was heartbroken.

It was a hard road she traveled, first with the delight of witnessing Jesus' healing, casting out demons, then the Jerusalem journey, trial, torture, crucifixion, last words, and death of her beloved Teacher.

Joseph of Arimathea took Jesus' body, placed it in his own tomb, covered it, and sealed it according to custom.

The inner darkness of these traumatic experiences leaves Mary desperate to find a ray of hope, the dawning of a new day.

So, in predawn darkness, she sets off to the tomb to do whatever it took to serve Jesus in death.

Arriving at the tomb, she sees the stone rolled away, runs and tells Peter Jesus body has been stolen.

Others return home, but Mary staying at the tomb looks inside and sees two angels who ask, "why are you weeping?"

Jesus asks her twice, "why are you weeping?" before she recognizes him.

She runs and tells the others, “I have seen the Lord.” 

In the Gospel of John that indicates, "I have seen the light." (John 1:4) 

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)

Easter Sunday means more to me than celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, sunrise services, a crowded church, Easter egg hunts, and family gatherings.

It means the dawning of a new day in which the darkness of evil, injustice, and oppression are overcome by the light of Christ.

There is plenty of darkness in the lives of others as they endure pain, sorrow, and grief while searching for the Light of Christ.

The "angel" of someone praying with you in your grief shines a light of healing which the darkness cannot overcome.

Boldly, Easter Sunday proclaims: "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." (John 1:5)"