An Easter-ing Faith

 

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. ⁹ Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him.  Matthew 28:8-9

 

Fear and joy holding hands.   Where is that true for you today?

 

Easter-ing faith has room for both fear and joy.  Name your fears, frustrations, irritations, irrational thoughts, and negative emotions that led to cynicism and constant criticism. 

 

There is truth here.

 

Now name your joys…the moments of laughter, goodness, quiet, hopefulness, small changes that mean everything to you, and love that feeds and fuels your life.

 

There is truth here too.

 

Fear and joy…not one or the other…but both and.  Remember the “homework” from Sunday was to get a rock ~ an actual rock ~ and write down what is confining and defining your life in less than life-giving ways.  If you didn’t do that, you can now.  Or you could just get a piece of paper, write down what feels sealed and stored up in you, and crumble the paper to look like a rock.  Then, you set that down.  You let God pick that rock up.  Remember, God can't roll away stones we keep clinging to and trying to control.  The women didn’t roll away the stone, neither do you need to push your rock all the way up the hill alone.  Let God enter.  Find a friend ~ holding the truth that the two Mary went together.  May this invitation open you to Easter continuing to unfold in your life this week.  Amen.