And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?" When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, "Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.

(Mark 16: 2-6)

Jesus "woke up." The Greek word  egeirō means many things. One of those definitions includes Jesus Christ's transformation from death to life. Jesus, earlier in Mark, uses this verb to command a paralytic person to rise up and walk. Ultimately, we observe Jesus being awakened and restored as he hadn't been before. Easter's empty space is both a tomb and a womb.

The angels on Easter morning directed Mary Magdalene and Mary to not tarry at the tomb. Rather, they sent the women to tell the disciples that the Risen Christ would meet them in Galilee. That's where their journey together began. That's where it was renewed following Jesus' re-awakening. Mark reports that the two women initially didn't tell anyone anything at all. Somehow they did share Easter's Good News. Jesus' Resurrection happened. Lives were forever changed. God's Reign of Compassion, Health, and Reconciliation continues unfolding. Opportunities for practicing resurrection remain plentiful.

Christians typically understand Jesus' resurrection as God's glorious means of receiving forgiveness of sins. Christ's death, descent to hell and resurrection from death overcomes  our suffering and death. Orthodox doctrine offers us to receive this miraculous event as a means for receiving God's salvation and redemption. Amen!

And, how then will we make Easter more than just a commemorative holiday? How shall we be transformed as Jesus was in his day. What Easter-like moments shall we awaken to in our own lives?

Christ Jesus is risen from the dead. Alleluia! We may choose to respond to The Anointed One's presence just as if we are the troubled person rising up from his wounds. We are the women who showed up at the garden with one plan in mind and fleeing away with another, much more miraculous experience within our grasp.  

We're awakening to a newly discovered vision, path and intentions here at St. James Episcopal Church. We're Easter people because Christ empowers us to celebrate God's love, reach out, connect, and share our faith, hospitality, and love with neighbors. Our alleluias are not only mere verbal expressions of our desire to honestly and transparently communicate with, and be present to one another. We have many more  resources other than words to share 

Scott Stoner of Living Compass writes:

"Resurrection is bouncing forward, not only recovering from a loss or difficult time, but also eventually transcending that loss and moving into a whole new, deeper way of living."

What a wonderful interpretation of Easter-tide! I encourage all of us to seek Jesus in Westwood and Western Cincinnati just as the disciples sought him out in Galilee. Begin with your family and friends, Then, let's not run scared from the emptiness of uncertainty, or the securities of our lives as we know them. Our willingness to celebrate, reach out, connect, and share Christ's love will awaken us to all sorts of miracles, while adoring the beauty of Christ's resurrection in our hearts, minds, and souls.  

May Jesus' presence with you in our shared Galilee. May your Easter be especially joyous and fruitful as you become aware of Christ's renewed life, hope, and faith.

Blessings Along The Way, Jim+