Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” John 20:1-2
Dear Friends in Christ,
Lent offers us the opportunity to reflect on the challenges and joys of life and to renew ourselves in body, mind and spirit, as we prepare for our primary celebration as Christians, Easter.
At this difficult time in global history, we may feel tempted to skip Christ’s crucifixion and death and go straight on to the resurrection!
Crucifixion and death seem to be all around us. The realities of lost jobs and difficult financial times make it hard to see much light in the world. Natural disasters, war and civil unrest continue to tear apart the lives of many of God’s children. Daily struggles with illness and addiction are still very real. With bad news on TV day after day, it is easy to give up hope for a better tomorrow.How do we, as people of faith, make sense out of all the beauty and wonder and pain and suffering that exist at the same time in our lives?
The seasons of Lent and Easter help us to remember that suffering and joy are both a part of the life of faith. We recall the passion, death and resurrection of Christ as we come to terms with our own suffering, the suffering of the world, and at the same time – the deep hope and joy we have knowing that resurrection is just around the corner. We recognize the tension and divisions in our world and renew our commitment to living lives of hope in the midst of our trials.
Committing ourselves to renewal during Lent helps us to arrive at the Easter Feast compassionately and fully alive. When Mary Magdalene discovered that the tomb was empty, she felt lost. She ran and told two of the disciples that Jesus body had been taken and she did not know where! Can you relate to feeling lost sometimes, even though you believe that the Lord is Risen? That is how the first Easter felt after the first Good Friday.
Finding the tomb empty still shocks us because it happens when we least expect it – While it is still dark. When things are tough, suddenly we discover that the stone has been rolled away while we were not looking and a new day is dawning. May you wake up this Easter morning to find every tomb in your life open and empty. May you see the Risen Lord calling you to live fully into the reality of His Resurrection. God wishes for you to have new and abundant life, right now…wherever you are on life’s journey.
I invite you to participate in the many Lenten opportunities taking place at The Church of St. Luke and St. Matthew. I look forward to praying with you through Holy Week and the Sacred Triduum and to arriving on Easter Morning with you revived and refreshed, filled anew with the love of God in Jesus Christ.
May God’s blessing be upon you and your family this Lent and throughout the Easter Season!
The Rev. Michael Sniffen, Priest-in-Charge