Encountering Christ in the Gospels—Daring Hope: The Women at the Tomb

I have never won the lottery or even the grand prize in a raffle. I rarely even pick the fastest line at the grocery checkout. How often have our wild ambitions or dreams come true? But if I am truly being honest with myself, how often have I even given myself permission to dream boldly and without fear?

I place myself at the opening of the tomb alongside the women who are the first witnesses to the Resurrection. Are they looking for a miracle? After the horrifying events during Holy Week, I imagine they hardly dared to dream of anything. They might have felt hopeless, disappointed, and without direction. The journey to the tomb might have been an opportunity to grieve the loss of a friend and the end of the future they had imagined.

The Risen Lord meets them in that place of sadness and surprises them with hope beyond their wildest dreams. In the Gospel of Matthew, the women are described as being “fearful yet overjoyed.” Planning a wedding, finding out you are expecting a child, starting a new career, moving to a different city. These moments that shape the very fabric of our lives are often a blend of fear and joy, opportunity and risk, wonder and awe. When the women at the tomb meet Jesus face to face, they are struck with the realization that their lives will never be the same again.

I wonder how many of the disciples were ready to give up on Jesus. Peter denied Jesus three times, the apostles locked themselves in the upper room, and they went back to fishing. Following Jesus had become too hard, too painful, too deadly. Perhaps many of the disciples had resigned themselves to returning to just an ordinary life. Maybe they even felt a bit relieved to return to the shadows of community rather than living in the midst of scrutiny and judgment. When the Risen One looks at the women and says, “Do not be afraid,” it gives the women the courage to tell their story. Jesus hears our concerns, and helps us move toward new life.

The guards are bribed into lying and spreading a rumor that they saw the disciples come in the night to steal Jesus’ body. The lies are easier because they don’t force us to change our preconceived notions and beliefs.

How often do we fall into the trap of making excuses for the good things that we experience? We tell ourselves a false narrative; we use our own evidence to counter the movements of the Holy Spirit. Really, these are tactics to keep Christ at a distance instead of allowing him to draw near and transform our fears.

I have been content to live in survival mode, not really imagining that God’s dream for me could be even bigger than my own imagination. Going back to “fishing,” or whatever the tasks that comprise our day-to-day existence might be, feels safer and easier than naming the “more” that I desire. I am not good enough, smart enough, charismatic enough to dare to dream for more. In the Easter Gospels, though, we see that all Jesus asks is that we show up wholeheartedly. When we dare to stand with Jesus, he gives us the strength we need to dream big.

An Easter Examen

1. Imagine yourself at the door of the open tomb. Allow the Risen Christ to meet you in that opening.
2. Stand in that place of transition. Remain in gratitude for the invitation of Christ.
3. Has Jesus encouraged you to leave behind anything in the tomb, like cast-off burial clothes?
4. Does Jesus speak any words of invitation to you?
5. How are you stepping forward in hope this Easter day?

Going Deeper

• Reflect further on your experience of Easter through the questions and insights in Entering into Easter.

• Pray a guided Visio Divina on the disciples’ experience of resurrection with Art & Faith from Loyola Press.

• Enter more fully into the experience of Mary Magdalene at the tomb with this reflection from Monique Jacobs.

Photo by [Bruno van der Kraan on Unsplash](Photo by <a href=%22https://unsplash.com/@brunovdkraan?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText%22>Bruno van der Kraan on <a href=%22https://unsplash.com/photos/sun-rays-inside-cave-v2HgNzRDfII?utm_source=unsplash&utm_medium=referral&utm_content=creditCopyText%22>Unsplash)

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Jen Coito

Jen Coito was Jesuit-educated in Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. She has a Masters in Pastoral Theology with a specialization in Spiritual Direction. After working for the California Province of Jesuits and Christian Life Community, Jen and Fr. Tri Dinh, S.J co-founded Christus Ministries, an outreach that bridges young adults and the Church through service, retreats, and leadership formation experiences. Jen also serves the Sisters of Notre Dame in California as the Associate Director of Mission Advancement. Daily life involves juggling her work with awesome nuns and the constant stream of activities with her husband Jason and three children.