The Easter season brings with it some very provocative and challenging images, one of which is the empty tomb, with the stone rolled away, and Jesus missing from the tomb, but palpably sensed and seen in some of the post-resurrection stories, like appearing to the disciples on the road to Emmaus.
In all four Gospels, the tomb is found empty, with the stone that had sealed it rolled away. Mark’s gospel ends with people afraid, as they stare into a tremendous unknown and flee. Matthew’s gospel adds joy: "And they departed quickly from the sepulchre with fear and great joy."
As a wonderful magazine, “Weavings,” has commented, "The women’s fear at the empty tomb may be the terror of finding oneself in the presence of an unmistakable act of God... Would we have done any better?”
Jesus was not there. The tomb was empty and fear came upon them, a newer and nobler fear—the awe of life. As “Weavings” points out, “It is always the empty tomb we are afraid of."
Why? One reason I love to think about is that an empty tomb means “things are not as we left them.” How the unlikeliest events happen; how surprise permeates everywhere.
“Things are not as we left them” also reminds me that those nearest and dearest to me are not as I left them, say, yesterday; they are always moving and changing. Heck, I’m not as I was yesterday. This is both thrilling and terrifying.
Sarah Ban Breathnach has written about our “shrouded selves,” and how they shift: "It’s fascinating, when we begin the excavation process, to discover how each of our different lives are buried in their distinctive shrouds."
Easter can be an excavation process, into lives left behind, and the need to roll away the stone in front of the tomb. As you live into your own Easter story, look for the stones that need to be rolled away. What weighs you down? What needs to be done?
Think in retrospect of all the stones that have been rolled away to smooth your path so far—and all the ways we are called to do that for others. Think of how the stones in our lives get bigger in our mind if we avoid them, if we believe they cannot be moved.
Then, if you can, name and take that first step toward moving the stone, and stepping out, blinking, into the light of an ongoing Easter season.