To increase among us the love of God and neighbour
Barnoldswick and Bracewell Parishes
Barnoldswick, Lancashire, England
Along with expressions like ‘blue sky thinking, thinking outside of the box has never been one of my favourite expressions but I’m willing to change my mind after this year’s Easter Day services.
The morning’s gospel reading was from Matthew. The two Mary’s go to the tomb early and are met by an angel who, once the stone was rolled away from Jesus’ tomb, informs them that Jesus is not there; they can look and see for themselves that the tomb is empty; and if they and the other disciples want to meet Jesus they need to go to Galilee.
The villages in the area of Galilee were home to most of Jesus’ followers. So in one sense the angel is telling the two Mary’s - you won’t find Jesus where you expected, with the dead, amongst the tombs, because he is alive. You will find him in the same places, with the same people, that he associated with during his ministry - go to Galilee.
The disciples are being asked to ’think outside of the box’, and so too should we, if we want to encounter the risen Jesus.
Jesus is still to be found with the same people, now as then : children who are suffering in the world, living amongst war and violence; the poor and disadvantaged in society, the people who have no voice.
Remembering Jesus’ readiness to break social convention in the way he respected and valued women in biblical society, we will find him today with those people whom our society considers to be of unequal worth, people who are denied their legitimate rights, looked down upon with suspicion because they are different.
Easter, is a season, marking the period when Jesus appeared to his disciples. If we are prepared to think outside the box, then we can still find his presence in the world today - quite often where and when we least expect it - all because of the message of the Angel - He is not here. He is risen. You will meet him in Galilee.
John Lancaster