Fear and Joy

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. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” ~ Matthew 28:1-10
I'll tell you what freedom is to me: no fear. ~ Nina Simone
For happiness, one needs security, but joy can spring like a flower even from the cliffs of despair. ~ Anne Morrow Lindbergh


Matthew tells things a little differently than Mark. His focus was different. So, not so much that we have to believe one account more than the other, but simply that for Matthew there was more he wanted to tell.

 In the midst of fear for the women at the tomb, there is something else. Joy.

 Seems counterintuitive, doesn't it? Fear and joy existing together?

 Or maybe not. Maybe it's like that feeling some of us get on a roller coaster as you are just ready to go down that first treacherous looking hill! It's scary, but it is also exhilarating!

 You are belted in tightly, but you also feel free!

 Have you ever found joy surprise you even in the midst of grief?

 Sometimes it might make you feel guilty, but then hopefully it will also make you feel free.

 Freedom is what Jesus was offering in his resurrection. Freedom from fear. From sin. From death.

 Freedom to live. Really and truly live.

 Maybe the women ran away first - terrified by the strangeness of this encounter with the risen Christ.

 But maybe joy snuck up on them, seized them, and brought them from death into life!

 And then they just had to share it!

 Prayer: Free me Lord from the bonds of fear so that I might live fully and joyfully into your resurrection. Amen.

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