BEING EASTER PEOPLE (3)

BEING EASTER PEOPLE (3)

BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD.

Be in your prayer space, follow the usual steps and settle into silence.

Sit still…..Relax…….Do not rush………

Take a couple of gentle, slow and deep breaths…becoming aware of your breath going in and out… stay focused on this breath of life……

Now from the depth of your heart begin to wish your mind well……….

Take a moment. Bless your day. Let your day Bless you……Take another moment. Bless your world. Let your world bless you……

Prayerfully, reflectively read the following……Dwell on the thoughts that speak to you in this moment……

Last week, we reflected on the different stories of the resurrection of Jesus and the responses of the many who heard the story. One thing in particular stood out for us in our reflection was the way the women and later the disciples raised to the tomb of Jesus.

This meditation invites you to reflect on what it means for you to race to the tomb of Jesus with the women and the disciples.

Racing to the Tomb:

Easter comes after the race to the tomb. Imagine if you can, visualize compassionate women racing to the tomb, early in the morning, wondering what they will do when they get to the tomb, how they will roll the stone away from the tomb, how they will get around the guards……

Let us join Mary of Magdala and the other women of compassion and start racing to the tomb!

• Racing to the tomb is a way of moving through doubts and fears and uncertainties and embracing the emptiness of the tomb……this must happen if we are ever to understand life.
  

• Racing to the tomb is a way of moving into the unknown….not knowing what awaits you on arriving at the tomb…..compassionate women found that death and the emptiness of the tomb have been changed into life.
  

• Racing to the tomb means losing life…it also means finding life! It means wheat falling into the ground and dying only to rise again.
  

• Racing to the tomb means life dug out of death, joy born out of sorrow, light breaking out of darkness.
  

• Racing to the tomb means taking a risk of looking into the tomb to see if Jesus is really there!
  

• Racing to the tomb means being alert, awake and sensitive even in our moments of confusion and like Mary, remember to check with the gardener…mystery of life and death would get unraveled.
  

• Racing to the tomb means being blessed, like Mary, to run into the gardener….in the gardener she found the one she was looking for! God does have ways of surprising us!
  

• Racing to the tomb means being ready and willing to remove all the stones from the doorways of the tomb, however huge the stones may be, if we wish to find the hidden life in us.
  

• Racing to the tomb means moving with confidence…..The women moved to the tomb wondering who will roll the stone away from the tomb…they moved with uncertainty….but they moved all the same!
  

Having arrived at the tomb, let us look into it to see if Jesus is really there. The mystery of hope unfolds before the tomb – only an eye of faith can see it as it unfolds. The Cross and the tomb call us to wait in Hope for victory/glory beyond understanding.

We can withdraw from the tomb……… OR look deep inside and find it empty…… OR look around and find HIM alive and moving and calling us.

Remember…Jesus stepped on death, stepped into the tomb, leaped out of it, moved out into the world….life to its fullness is his gift to us! Embrace it!

We will be racing to the tomb as long as we live. We will be looking into the tomb to see if Jesus is really there!

We now take a moment to contemplate on racing from the tomb…ON BEING and becoming Easter People……

We become Easter people as we continue to race from the tomb. Imagine if you can, visualize Mary of Magdala racing from the tomb, early in the morning, wondering how she would break the news to her friends……Let us join Mary of Magdala and the other women of compassion and start racing from the tomb!

• Racing from the tomb is a way of moving into the unknown trusting in the promise: “I will go ahead of you into Galilee”
  

• Racing from the tomb is a way of announcing the good news of God’s love even when you know you have not fully matured in faith!

• Racing from the tomb is a way of reaching out and forming community with others.

• Racing from the tomb is reaching across boundaries, breaking down barriers and entering into fellowship with all people.

• Racing from the tomb is reaching out, with hope, to those who are afraid, lonely, skeptical, or disappointed.

• Racing from the tomb means I have a reason for striving to be good, remaining faithful and being hopeful.

• Racing from the tomb is a reminder that Christ gives new power and strength to be His witness to the world.

• Racing from the tomb is taking time to discern a situation before acting on impulse.

• Racing from the tomb is seeing the power of God’s Kingdom in seemingly simple acts.

• Racing from the tomb means being positive and optimistic.

   

• Racing form the tomb means walking in faith…however imperfect it may be.

   

• Racing from the tomb means believing and trusting even without understanding.

Add your own:

Fr. Gus Tharappel, msfs