Hello.
Well, we have just about made it through another Lent. Soon we with our brothers and sisters throughout the world will be celebrating the great feast of Easter. The unthinkable becomes real. One who was once dead and buried has broken the seal of the tomb and vanquished Old Death who thought he had the upper hand. But the Lord had another idea in mind. As the angels said to the women, “He is not here, He has risen as He said.” (Matt. 28:6)
As the Gospel writers say, this took the women by surprise. I’m sure it would take anyone with any sense by surprise. I am sure that it took these women a few moments to recover from their shock to run with the message of the angel.
As someone once wrote, “Lent. A time of reflection, sacrifice, and spiritual growth. Let us journey together in faith, fining strength in our shared humanity.” ‘Finding strength in our shared humanity’. Such an event is not something that one can keep to themselves. It is something HAD to be shared.
Over two thousand years later the event still needs to be told. Now it is not up to those women who went to the tomb to complete the required burial rituals. Rather it is up to us to run and tell others. That does not mean we have to run down the street screaming “He has risen” but more important is that we now must begin to live the risen life of the Lord in our own lives.
As is the custom in the Eastern Church when greeting another, one will say “He has risen.” the response to that greeting is “Yes, He has risen indeed!”
We may not use such a greeting, but the truth is expressed. He has risen INDEED!!
Peace and All Good,
Fr. Vinnie, fcm and the
Bros and Srs of the
Franciscan House of Prayer.
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