Contemplation

All four Gospels recount the Passion, death and Resurrection of Jesus. These accounts differ slightly depending on who the narrative is meant for. However what the Resurrection stories do have in common are that the tomb was found empty and the Risen Christ appeared to certain people. Let us enter St Matthew’s narrative which is read at the Easter Vigil this year and watch the scene unfold as he appears to Mary of Magdala and the other Mary.

• Who are you within the story? Are you Mary of Magdala? The other Mary? One of the terrified guards? The angel? A silent observer? Perhaps something or someone not mentioned in the written story.

• Imagine the dim light of early morning and the silhouettes of the two Marys walking toward the tomb. What is the dawn like? What is the climate like? What is the atmosphere like? Is it full of grief, confusion or even anger? What can you see, hear and feel around you? What sounds, smells, and the other details about the location do you notice?

• Imagine you are walking with Mary of Magdala and the other Mary to the tomb in the pre-dawn light. Feel the cool air and the tension of the Sabbath ending.

• Why do you go to the tomb? How does your heart feel? Heavy with grief? Filled with sorrow? Do you feel angry or confused that Jesus allowed himself to be taken without defending himself? Do you feel he deserted you when there was so much more to learn from him?

• Do you notice the soldiers guarding the tomb? What are they doing? Are they sleeping? Are they chatting to one another? Perhaps they are around a campfire talking in low voices.

• Feel the heavy silence of the morning suddenly shattered by a violent earthquake. Feel the ground trembling beneath your feet and the rush of air as an angel, appearing like lightning, descends from heaven. What happens next? Watch the guards shaking with such terror that they become like “dead men”.

• How do you react to the earthquake? Imagine your shock when you see the angel rolling back the stone of the tomb. How do the soldiers react? Imagine their shock?

• How do you react when you hear the angel speaking to you? Are you comforted when he says “Do not be afraid?” When the angel assures you that Jesus “has been raised just as he said”, how do you feel? Overjoyed? Frightened? Disbelief because you saw him die? Experience the overwhelming mixture of fear and “great joy” as you hear the message: “He is not here; he has been raised”.

• Do you go and look inside the tomb as the angel instructed? How do you feel when you see the empty tomb? Joy at realising that Jesus’ promise to rise on the third day was actually true? Does what Jesus said during the past three years begin to make sense to you? That the horrific events in Jerusalem was not his end but a beginning? Perhaps nothing that Jesus had said could have prepared you for the reality of the Resurrection.

• Experience the emotion as the women run to tell the disciples. Notice the unique blend of “fear and great joy” in your own heart. Imagine walking fast to tell the disciples, only to have Jesus appear directly in front of you. How do you feel? Are you overjoyed with his words of comfort and kneel down to worship him? Is there anything you want to say to him? Imagine the sensation of falling at His feet and grasping them. Feel the reality of His physical, resurrected body.

• Listen to Jesus saying, “Do not be afraid,” and instructing you to take the message of his resurrection to his brothers, guiding them toward the new beginning in Galilee. 

• Jesus promises to meet His followers in their ordinary, everyday lives in Galilee. Do you too want to go to Galilee and encounter the risen Christ in your ordinary life, amidst things that are familiar to you? How do you feel about Jesus calling you brother? Do you feel he now trusts you to carry on his mission?

Speak to the Risen Christ about opportunities that you can encounter him in your every day life in your family, in your community, in your prayer time, in nature.

We will sit with our thoughts and imagination for 10 minutes