What if St. John was afraid of the Empty Tomb because he realized what that would truly mean? What if in that moment St. John became aware of the reality of the Resurrection? His pause may have been the instant when he first grasped the possibility that Christ had been raised from the dead. Entering the tomb and finding it empty would mean that Jesus was the Messiah, the Son of the living God, and that his promises—all of his promises—would be fulfilled. The weight of that reality at once understood would give any of us pause. For St. John, it would mean that his Master was alive, Amen, a cause for rejoicing. But that overwhelming and powerful reality would also mean that St. John would no longer have any choice, he would have to follow Christ wherever He led, whatever the cost. For how could he deny the Messiah? He would have to give his life to Christ, to be—as St. Paul would later describe—“captured like prey.”
I wonder how many times I have paused, fearful of losing my false sense of freedom, fearful of losing control, fearful of losing my life on my terms, fearful that all of “it” might just be true and all of what “that” entails. I am overwhelmed at times that the Good News seems to be too good to be true.
Jesus Christ is risen! Alleluia! I believe that in my heart. I know what the creeds and Church say this means, but to be honest, I do not know what this exactly means for me. All I can do is hold this mystery in my heart, turn it over to God, and follow…
Resurrection—not progress, not evolution, not enlightenment, but a call from heaven to us: “Rise up! You are dead, but I will give you life.” That is what is proclaimed here, and it is the only way that the world can be saved. …
We do not like to see that we are deeply imprisoned, and that we absolutely cannot in any way help ourselves; that we are a people who live in the shadow and darkness of death; that this is proclaimed to us in the word “resurrection”—oh, that is for us the bitter, unendurable truth which stirs us to rebellion. That is the darkness in the clear word “resurrection.”
Nevertheless, wherever that crystal-clear word “resurrection” shall be heard and understood, a prior word must be heard and perceived: “Death.” It must be seen that in the midst of life, even in blooming and healthy life, there is a yawning chasm, a deep pit that cannot be filled by any art or power of man. Only one word is sufficient to cover this chasm, to fill this pit: “Jesus is victor!”—that is, “resurrection.”
Now it is all over. The work of our Redemption has been accomplished. We are now children of God, because Jesus has died for us and his death has ransomed us. Empti enim estis pretio magno (1 Cor 6:20), you and I have been bought at a great price.
Shepherd me, O God, beyond my wants,
beyond my fears, from death to life.
You know how they have those plastic colored bracelet bands with sayings on them? Lance Armstrong started the fad with the yellow band that read “Live Strong”. They have dozens of different colors and sayings on them now, from breast cancer awareness to anti-hate slogans. My wife has been wearing one from the hospital where she works. It reads, “Failure is not an option.”
I was thinking about one for prayer. How about, Pray often? Or how about, Pray for some one? (You could even get IM cryptic with Pray 4 some 1.) Or to copy a phrase, Prayer is not an option?
What do you think?