Gospel - Lk 24:1-12
At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day." And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.
Reflection
My parents raised their children during a time when farm life was still fairly common. There were the cows to milk, vegetables to put up, eggs to gather and butter to churn. Each spring my father purchased 25 baby chicks, delivered by mail. Every year he placed them in a brooder where the chicks were kept warm by light bulbs. Farm life was for raising food and not having pets, so we rarely got to handle the animals unless it was necessary. If we were fortunate to be around when the chicks arrived, we were able to help place them in the brooder. However, one year was different. It was the year the brooder caught fire! The chicks were saved in time and my parents did what they had to do to keep the chicks alive. They brought them inside the house and placed them in a cardboard box, lined with newspaper, and warmed by incandescent light bulbs. What a treat for all the siblings to have this new life right under their noses in the mist of spring. How we marveled at God’s wonderful creation!
The resurrection is unfolding in the Gospel with the women finding the empty tomb and receiving the angels’ reminder. Poor Peter, so overwhelmed from his denial and fear in the death of Jesus, he seemed to forget that Jesus’ life didn’t end with his death. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened. Jesus tried to prepare his disciples and spoke of rising on the third day. And still, Peter and the other disciples couldn’t believe or understand the message at first.
How many times does God prepare us and yet we don’t fully understand and are surprised at what he does for us? We try to understand the ultimate sacrifice and the message of our new life in Jesus, but like the apostles, it is hard to comprehend. Our King has rescued us and given us another chance. Can we sufficiently thank him and run to his mercy? Just like my father’s chicks, who had a second chance in life, Jesus saved us from eminent death. Let us marvel at our new life, for our God is great and all of his creation is wonderful.
