04122020 – The Resurrection of Our Lord!
“Life CRISES” can change us FOREVER!
Many people will long remember the COVID-19 crisis and the toll that it has taken upon “OUR WORLD” in 2020.
“Future generations” will be TOLD about WHAT we lived and died through.
“Dramatic MOMENTS” can turn “deep sorrow” into great “JOY” that is “OVERFLOWING,” “distress and anxiety” can be transformed into “TRANSCENDENT SHALOM.”
The results of “THESE moments,” however, depend upon OUR “ENVIRONMENT” and upon our “INNER DISPOSITION.”
The PEOPLE and the EVENTS that “stepped into these moments of change” are just as IMPORTANT as “an inner sense of balance.”
There ARE GOOD PEOPLE among us.
People have STEPPED UP.
People have MADE sacrifices.
People are keeping HOPE alive!
People have WORKED TOGETHER for the “common good.”
In this time of “UNCERTAINTY and UPHEAVAL” there have been many BLESSINGS to be thankful for…
We NEED to REJOICE in the GOOD and savor the STRENGTH that is in us.
Thank God for our lives of FAITH!
Please allow me TO TELL YOU about…
Another INDESCRIBABLE EVENT…
…that forever CHANGED a couple of women, both named MARY
…who visited the tomb of their “beloved master and teacher – on that “very first EASTER morning.”
They came TO GRIEVE.
They came with their profound sense of sorrow.
They came out of their sense of loss.
They LEFT with a message that would CHANGE THE WORLD.
Literally, turning it on its ear!
Psalm 114:7 reminds us, “Tremble, O earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob.”
And Tremble it did.
An earthquake surely made their early morning visit all-the-more uneasy.
Mary Magdalene has always held a place of HONOR AND RESPECT among the women who followed Jesus.
According to Matthew, this Mary followed Jesus from Galilee and FINANCIALLY SUPPORTED his ministry.
She was THE FIRST among those “listed WITNESSES” to Jesus’ CRUCIFIXION.
NOW, this Mary would be THE FIRST of the WITNESSES “to the Resurrection and the EMPTY TOMB.”
That is huge!
The “APPEARANCE” of the Lord’s ANGELIC MESSENGER reminds us of the APPEARANCE of Jesus – at the MOUNT OF Transfiguration! Glistening, Gleaming, Brilliantly Bright, Whiter than White, lightning – like light…startling…
The Kingdom of Heaven turned everything upside down.
Women were the FIRST WITNESSES to “the CORE” of the Christian faith.
Those who had NO PLACE, received the startling words FIRST.
And they were the FIRST to BELIEVE.
“The last shall be FIRST and the FIRST shall be last.”
In Matthew, the women received the same exact message two times.
The Lord’s ANGELIC messenger revealed the women the empty tomb with the command.
Jesus (himself) revealed the same command a second time.
“Do NOT be afraid!
Go tell the BROTHERS, the disciples…the followers…” the message, the “GOOD NEWS!”
Their GRIEF and SORROW and SADDNESS was turned into a sense of AWE, WONDER and “GREAT JOY!”
DO NOT BE AFRAID!
HAVE HOPE!
CLING TO THE FAITH THAT IS WITIN YOU!
You may find yourselves in ISOLATION, but you are NOT ALONE.
G*D is with you!
The experience of the Risen Jesus is meant to CHANGE us, to EMPOWER us, and to EMBOLDEN us, because it points to “a life beyond the tomb.”
There is life beyond viruses!
GOODNESS and BLESSINGS FLOW even now.
I just pray that you find peace and tranquility and hope knowing WHO IS IN CHARGE OF “ALL THINGS.” Easter Blessings…my friends…Amen.