Monday in the Octave of Easter

 Lectionary: 261

Speak, Mary, declaring
            What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
            The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
            The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
            to Galilee he goes before you.”

The Easter sequence sounds happier and more exciting in its original setting than the Lectionary's English translation.

 T he women who first reported the Lord's resurrection to his disciples, and thence to the holy city, had some advantages over the soldiers with their fabricated story. First, no one in authority would take a woman's testimony seriously; and, secondly, everybody knows a watchman's word, because he often sleeps on the job, can be bought. 

Strange things happened in Jerusalem during that most unusual year when the Passover and Sabbath fell on the same day. They continued as the city went back to work. And the story of the Lord's resurrection remains as outrageous as it was on that Sunday morning. 

As Isaiah said, "Who would believe what we have heard?" Isaiah's skeptical question only adds to the intrigue for, in that same passage he goes on to prophesy the impossible: 

Therefore I will give him his portion among the many,

and he shall divide the spoils with the mighty,

Because he surrendered himself to death,

was counted among the transgressors,

Bore the sins of many,

and interceded for the transgressors. (53:12)

The excitement that ended on Friday but erupted anew on Sunday was enough to make the Lord's followers hesitate before returning to their former lives and abandoned families. Perhaps they were like the crowds who gather around any unexpected spectacle. They might have said to one another, "Let's wait and see what happens next." 

Faith is born in wonder, and then verified by facts, reasons, and rationality. Something unexpected, amazing, and wonderful happened that weekend; and a fellowship that was disbanded suddenly regathered to share their experience with the entire world. If the original witnesses of his resurrection have all died, the community is as alive and sure as the women who approached him, embraced his feet, and did him homage.