There is something beautiful in today’s Gospel. The women leave the tomb, as Saint Matthew says, “fearful yet overjoyed.” That is such a real description of faith.
They are overjoyed because the tomb is empty. Jesus is risen. Death has not won. But they are also trembling, because resurrection is not a small idea. It changes everything. God has done something so new, so powerful, that their hearts are still trying to catch up.
And while they are running, Jesus meets them.
That is important. He meets them on the way. Not when they have everything figured out. Not when they are calm and composed. He meets them while they are still moving, still confused, still amazed, still trying to be faithful.
That is often how the Lord comes to us too. We may think we need to have a perfect faith, a perfect prayer life, or a perfectly peaceful heart before we can really meet Him. But Easter tells us otherwise. If we keep moving toward Him, if we keep trying to be faithful, He will meet us on the road.
And what does Jesus say? “Do not be afraid.”
That is one of the great Easter sentences. Because even after the resurrection, fear can remain. We believe, but we still worry. We rejoice, but we still carry burdens. We come to church with faith, but also with questions, concerns, and anxieties.
So the risen Jesus speaks the words we need: Do not be afraid.
Easter does not mean life suddenly becomes easy. It means that Christ is alive in the middle of life as it really is. It means fear does not have the final word. Sin does not have the final word. Death does not have the final word.
So on this Easter Monday, the invitation is simple: keep moving with the good news. Do not stay standing at the tomb. Do not return to the old sadness as though nothing has changed. Christ is risen, and He is already on the road ahead of you.
And if you keep walking with faith, even with trembling faith, you will find that He is closer than you thought.
Amen.