Who would've believed 'em?

The greatest news the world would ever know was messaged on the lips of women.....Who would've believed them??? As we know women didn't carry too much cred nor power in 1st Century Palestine...(we can debate how much things have changed in a later post....) Though the four gospels differ on the number of angels, what was said, who else was there....the one constant are the women....and ain't that always the way....

As the tales are told of that first Resurrection Day, Mary Magdalene tells the disciples that Jesus is risen and they will see him.  For many understandable reasons, the least being the messenger's gender, the disciples need to see it for themselves and sprint off to the tomb, finding it empty, just as the woman said.

The message of Jesus is love.  So in terms of love, how do you know? 

Referencing those whom I love and who love me, there is an energy, there is trust, one wants to be with the person, there is a tenderness, one writes letters (has to be a letter, folks...tweets just don't cut it...#gimme a break), one spends time with, takes walks, goes out to dinner....

With all that said, consider how similar the actions with the followers of the Risen Christ and those times evidenced when the community is gathered. There most definitely is an energy....you feel it and I dare say, if you don't have it nor feel it, it may be time for a pause and a ponder. 

There is trust....I'll go where you send me...gulp...yet, one goes.  Prayer, study groups, readings, retreats, making daily reflection a priority....we spend time and attention. My favorite version of the oft-quoted Micah 6.8 is "What, O, mortal does God require of you, yet to do what is just, to love tenderly and to walk humbly."

Scripture supports the number of letters penned and sent and received. Our witness to those words are our responses. 

We walk our witness...don't tell me...show me by feeding, quenching. advocating, stirring and spicing it up.

We gather at table. Sure, it's nice to eat in house....yet, how much better when we go out?  When we extend the grace of the table to others....

The story is told of persons in prison wanting to celebrate communion. There was no officiant, no bread nor wine.  The people gathered in a circle, turned to one another, opened their arms and hands and said, "This is my body given for you...."   This works for me on a lot of levels, namely being the sacrament is to continue far and wide beyond the end of the table and the doors of the building.  

If Easter is to be more than a day, we must make it so.  Who would've believed Jesus is risen?  A whole lot of folks if we practice resurrection. If we love. If we labor to make the world look as God would've have it to be.  Then, we would hear a whole lot of folks saying, "The church is doing what???? I don't believe it......."