Do not be afraid. Go.

By Rev. Heather J. Blais, Rector
Matthew 28: 1-10

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Alleluia! Christ is Risen!
The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia! 

Our Gospel begins on the third day following Jesus’ death. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary arise at dawn to visit the burial tomb. They had been waiting patiently to visit Jesus’ grave, ever since Joseph of Arimathea had laid his body there two days prior. While Joseph buried Jesus, two women identified as Mary Magdalene and the ‘other’ Mary,  sat across from the tomb keeping watch. When the sun began to set, they needed to return to their lodgings in order to observe the Sabbath. 

As the sun rose on the first day of the week, the two women were the only disciples to return and visit Jesus’ tomb. The only disciples to find the courage to pay their respects. But they were not the only ones at the tomb. Guards had been assigned by Pilate to keep watch, after those in religious leadership requested this measure of security.  Jesus had spoken of dying and rising again on the third day. Those in power were being proactive about quelling such ideas. 

Jesus was killed for being a disrupter; perceived as fanning the flames of discontent. His enemies - those high up in religious leadership and those governing the region on behalf of Rome - sought to maintain the status quo and keep power in the hands of the very few. And as we witnessed on Good Friday, this cost him everything. One would think the power demonstrated in a Roman crucifixion would have been enough to quell any worries of further talk or action by Jesus’ followers. Yet even in Jesus' death, he invoked fear amongst his enemies. 

Jesus represented a different kind of distribution of power, a different set of norms and values, ones grounded in God’s love. This was such a perceived threat, that even after his death, those holding the most power do what they can to disrupt the Jesus’ Movement. When the guards report what happens at the empty tomb, they are paid by those high in religious leadership to keep quiet about the truth. They are paid to propagate fake news, and tell people Jesus’ disciples came while the guards were asleep and stole his body. 

The thing about propaganda and fake news is the truth will always come out. Just as empires with corrupt leaders who use their power for evil ends and the further oppression of others, will always see their reign fall in the end. It may be a fall that breaks little by little, chinks in one armor exposing vulnerabilities that will eventually bring entire empires down. Or it may be more like the destruction of an earthquake that disrupts and breaks down infrastructure of an entire city or region. We do not want to see the suffering of the fall; we do not want to see the destruction of the city - even as we know it is the universe righting itself. As good once more overcomes evil. As love once and for all overcomes death. 

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary play an important role in this seismic shift that we see on Easter morning. Upon their arrival at the tomb, there is a very real earthquake. It results with a blindingly bright angel appearing before them. The angel rolls back the stone, revealing an empty tomb. The guards are so overcome by fear that they experience temporary paralysis. 

While fear can be contagious, in this instance, it is not. The women listen with rapt attention, as the angel tells them: Do not be afraid.  You are looking for Jesus, but he isn’t here. He has been raised. Come and see where he laid. 

So the women look in the cool, dark, dank and empty tomb. The space lies in such stark contrast with the angel’s blinding brightness.The angel then tells the women,    Do not be afraid. Go. Go and tell the disciples in Galilee, he has been raised from the dead. You’ll see him there. 

So the women go, embarking on the journey to tell the disciples. Even as a swirling mixture of fear and excitement, courses through them. It seems their beloved teacher and friend has been raised. 

Imagine how long that day must have been. Eager to know more, to see Jesus, and bring this news to the other disciples.  What a relief it must have been when they encountered Jesus on the road.  Seeing the risen Jesus, hearing him greet them. The women fall to their knees, grabbing hold of his feet. This is no apparition, but really and truly the risen Jesus. Because Love is stronger than death. 

Jesus turns to these faithful disciples, reiterating the angel’s earlier message: Do not be afraid. Go. Tell the other disciples in Galilee. They will see me.  The women do as Jesus asks. Stopping throughout Galilee to spread the good news to the disciples that Jesus has risen. 

It was no mistake that the empty tomb was first revealed to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary - followers with no status in the wider culture. Jesus’ ministry has always begun on the margins, with those least visible. Yet when these women show up, in faithfulness and with a deep loyalty to their teacher and friend, their actions become instrumental to the continuation of the Jesus Movement. They become the first evangelists, proclaiming the good news that good has once more overcome evil, and love has once and for all overcome death. 

Our most beloved stories in literature and film often show what can happen when those least visible, those with least access to power show up for good. 

It is this first step, the showing up, often in deep faithfulness and loyalty, that we see momentum begin to build so good might overcome evil. And critical for momentum to begin to build, they must realize they are not alone. They are in this work faithfully together - and it lets them move beyond fear so they, too, might go. We see elements of this in the Harry Potter series, in Lord of the Rings, the Chronicles of Narnia, the Time Quintet, and countless others. Eclectic and unusual folk that do not fit into typical molds, come from the margins of their little worlds to band together and create Dumbledore’s Army, the Fellowship of the Ring, and other movements. All for the sake of good overcoming evil, and a shared vision for a better world. 

In these stories, it is often the character’s fierce loyalty to one another, and to a greater good, that touch our hearts. Hermione Granger uses a spell on her parents, erasing her existence in their minds, all so she might protect them and support her friend Harry in defeating Voldemort. Sam Gamgee devotes his life to ensuring his dear friend Frodo can fulfill his mission, by repeatedly refusing to leave his side and ultimately carrying him over Mt. Doom. The unrelenting steadfastness and trust these characters demonstrate, helps those they walk beside face any fear and go onward with courage. 

It is this kind of devotion and faithfulness that we see in Mary Magdalene and the other Mary in today’s gospel. Their love of their friend Jesus, overcomes any fear of the political and religious turmoil at play, any nonsense they might face from the guards or religious leaders. They show up in faith, and encounter first an angel, then the risen Jesus: Do not be afraid. Go. Tell the disciples. And because they do, the Good News of Jesus' resurrection becomes known. Over 2,000 years later we still recall Jesus' final week as a testimony of our belief that love, as made known to us in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, is stronger than death. Love will always be stronger than death - yesterday, today, and forever. 

The events that unfold in our gospel, do so because of five simple words. Do not be afraid. Go. 

The women are told, first and foremost: Do not be afraid. It begs the question: what fears are holding us back?  The ones that leave us feeling paralyzed or frozen like the guards. What fears do we need to name, releasing their power over us so we might step forward in faith?

Once released, we can join the women and: Go. Go and tell the disciples. All of it urges us to turn to God in prayer, so we might regularly ask: Where are you calling us to go, God? How are you calling us to share and embody the good news this day? 

Because right now, the world is hungering to be reminded that good does overcome evil, and that love truly is stronger than death. The world right now is hungry for this good news. Hungry for hope. Hungry for justice. Hungry for peace. Hungry for God’s sense of righteousness. Hungry for a love that is stronger than death. 

On this Easter morning, the Gospel calls us to respond to this hunger by sharing the Good News of Christ’s Way of Love with those we walk beside in our communities and in the wider world.  The question for us is: Will we accept this invitation? 

Do not be afraid. Go. 

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