The Empty Tomb

As I am sure you are already aware, all four of the Gospels begin their stories of Our Lord’s Easter Resurrection with a narration of the faithful women in His company who go to his burial tomb to pray (Matthew 28: 1-10; Mk 16:1–8; Lk 24:1–12; Jn 20:1–10). Each evangelist includes the particular details of that visit that are in line with the theme of their telling of the Good News.

But the one detail that all the accounts share is that those women first encounter the empty tomb.

And, I believe, it is a critical detail.

If there is one truth about my faith that needs constant refinement and growth, it is the call to surrender. The call to be ready to hand over my own hopes and fears, deepest desires and dreaded fears, to His loving (and, frequently, surprising!) plans for my salvation.

Otherwise, as Luke makes clear in his version of that first visit to the tomb, God’s messenger quite rightly may need to ask me:

“Why do you seek the living one among the dead? (Luke 24:5)

Fr. Mike French, SJ