EASTER MORNING

THE  TOMB  IS  EMPTY

“The Tomb IS empty”…His body has NOT been stolen, there were Roman Guards watching the place … there was the ‘stone’ blocking the entrance … BUT there was the Prophecy.

The Rabbi from Nazareth IS RISEN. HE Himself said: ‘Destroy this temple and I rebuild it after three days.’ This poor, ordinary ‘carpenter’ WAS different from the other Rabbis, teachers. HE has kept His word, HE keeps His word. 

 
"The Resurrection" by Tony Mahoney, part of a Triptych, found in a Private Collection, 2011.                      

                                                                                                                                                          

I do reflect, think on THIS BLESSED EASTER MORNING … where are all those who mocked that Rabbi, those who spat on Him, those who scourged Him, those who reviled Him, those who called Him a drunkard, those who called Him a madman, those who accused Him of being a friend of sinners, those who crucified Him ?

Where are all these people NOW ?

Where is Herod, Annas, Caiphas, the double faced Pharisees, the elite Sadducees, all the priests, the Zealots, the mad crowd that shouted at top of their voice, ‘Crucify him’, ‘Crucify him’.

Every Easter morning, I recall a poem I studied, when still at school, by the English poet, John Masefield …pity I forgot the Title. But the main gist is a conversation going on between Calpurnia and the Centurion. He asks her: “Lady, where is Jesus?” and she answers, ‘He is risen, He is gone. He is all round the world, where no one can stop Him.”  There seems to be a tone of satisfaction in her answer. But the climax comes in the Centurion’s reply … or rather reflection: “Now, the trouble starts.”

Certainly, the trouble is not a reference to us, who believe in Him …though it might be, God forbid,  but to those who refuse to bow their head and accept HIM, as the Lord of the Universe.

I often wonder; what was the reaction of all those people who caused His Passion and Death, when, after death they had to face the self-same Rabbi, the same Jew they had crucified, now seeing Him as their Judge. What a shocking surprise. God is ALL MERCIFUL during our life time, BUT, BUT, BUT… ALL JUST after death. God is Perfect in MERCY, God is Perfect in JUSTICE.

How is this JUDGE going to be faced?  Maybe, this very day, tomorrow, or the day after. Certainly, no one has drawn a contract for the ‘Day of Reckoning’, no one can choose D-Day. What arguments, (though there will be no arguments) are we going to present, how are we going to justify our attacks, against His Beloved Bride, the Church, against His representative on earth … the Pope, the Priests and all those who are doing the Apostles work.

God forbid I feel, on that day, like Herod, felt, or like Caiphas, like all the rest who mocked Him … though, I hope and pray that they have converted before their death. Besides, even we, do, sometimes hurt Him and mock Him.

It was no co-incidence that Jesus rose from the death on a Spring Day, because even nature put on her best to welcome back her Author, her Creator.  On His death, Nature protested, but, today, it exploded in multi-colours, in a joyous festive mood. It is a time of re-Birth for all nature …including us. Let us be born again in the Spirit, with the promise of a New Life, new outlook, fresh beginning, trusting in Him, who has promised: “I shall make all things new.”

I wish each and everyone a Blessed New Life, a Fresh Beginning in the RISEN LORD. God bless us ALL.