Holy Name Monastery Chapel 3/26/05

Forefront Cross from Veneration of the Cross Holy Name Monastery Chapel taken 3/26/05

Lilies in the Basement for Tommorow 3/26/05

Turk's Cap 3/20/05

Holy Saturday March 26, 2005

The Tomb Mt 28:1-10

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, approached, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing was white as snow. The guards were shaken with fear of him and became like dead men. Then the angel said to the women in reply, "Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said.
Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, 'He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.' Behold, I have told you." Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me."

Jesus tells the women "Do not be afraid" and to tell the others to go to Galilee and they will see him. Be not afraid is a message that is repeated throughout the Bible narrative especially in the telling of the life of Jesus. In this reading is not only Jesus that says do not be afraid but also the angel. It is interesting that the women are the first to see the risen Jesus. It was the women that stayed at the foot of the cross. It must have been a tortured experience to see the brutality of the crucifixion. To stay with the scorned and stay through the worst suffering of a situation is a discipleship of Jesus. To follow through the best and the worst of times without waivering always faithful to the Lord.

The Lord will return to Galilee. And there were some who had said nothing good will ever come out of Galilee. Why does he return to Galilee? Is it to end where he began? Is it to return the disciples and apostles to their families? Is it because the followers have already returned to Galilee? I will read Jerome's Commentary and others and try to understand why Galilee. I do know that there were Hebrew Bible readings that foretold a prophet from an area there that had battles. I also will rethink and remeditate the meaning and feeling and sense of "do not be afraid." Throughout today, a part of the Holy Week's Three Holiest Days.