Luke 24:1-12

“But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” vs. 11

The gospels indicate that when the women returned from the tomb with their report of a missing body and an angelic message the male disciples did not believe them. And we can understand that! The story defies logic and seems irrational. Experience tells us that death is the ultimate ending and that there is nothing beyond it. But like Peter, having heard the story, we do begin to wonder. Maybe human experience is too small a prism with which to view the whole of reality. Maybe there is more to life than meets the eye. So Peter checked it out, and found to his amazement that at least part of the women’s tale was true–the body was gone! And like Peter we too are moved to check out the story. We know it well–we’ve worshiped enough on Easter to know that the tomb was empty–but still we shout out with joy, “Christ is risen!” It’s not that we are defying logic. We know all about the finality of death–but with Peter we have discovered the ultimate reality, a truth that transcends logic. Christ is alive and the mission continues! And we see it every day! And we even dare to hope that we are sharing in that life and mission, and that it will never end! There really is more to life than meets the eye, and so we raise the roof with our responses, “Christ is risen indeed!”

Thought for the Day: What do I love about Easter?