Easter Morning, 2015

The altar is draped in white, the color of Easter

1 And when the sabbath was past, Mary Mag'dalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salo'me, bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.
2 And very early on the first day of the week they went to the tomb when the sun had risen.
3 And they were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the door of the tomb?"
4 And looking up, they saw that the stone was rolled back; -- it was very large.
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed in a white robe; and they were amazed.
6 And he said to them, "Do not be amazed; you seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has risen, he is not here; see the place where they laid him.
7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, as he told you."
8 And they went out and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid. (Mark 16:1-8)

The priest reflected on the women's sad duty on that first Easter morning ("bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him"), the obstacle ("Who will roll away the stone"), and their fear upon finding the body gone. The women didn't know how the story would turn out and fled with "trembling and astonishment." Despite decades of inculcation, we also are not absolutely certain about what is on the other side of the stone.

A few children were present at the 8 a.m. Easter service. One 3-year-old girl wouldn't stop talking, and her flustered parents were repeatedly ushering her from the room. The priest paused, "God loves the sound of children---and our own 'little' voices raised in thanks and praise." The little girl's mother smiled in appreciation.

While we are wrestling with profound ideas we must not forget to be kind.