A JOYFUL REFECTION FOR EASTER DAY...

ALLEULIA! CHRIST IS RISEN!

A reading from St Matthew's Gospel

After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God's angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn't move. The angel spoke to the women: "There is nothing to fear here. I know you're looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

 "Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message."

Reflection

I do not know

what resurrection is

(though I’m almost sure

it has something to do

with hallowing the common ground.)

Of course, that’s not all of it.

I expect one day I’ll get up

and find that it sneaked up on me

while I wasn’t looking,

and maybe even that it’s been there all along.

That’s as may be.

There’s no point in trying to see things

before you’re ready.

You have to walk before you can run.

In the meantime,

I believe in it

And that feels like an initial step.

For now,

it will do.

It is enough.

Kathy Galloway

Prayer

Thanks be to God for this new dawn
This new beginning of a day and of our lives
Creation’s re-creation through pain and sorrow.
Life-giving strength bursts from the grave,
And from an ending comes the promise of a new tomorrow. Amen.