A night without stars, a dark night.
Mary, the mother of Jesus was left alone, in the night of her pain and her faith, watching for the return of her Son, soon it will be “the third day”, she thought….
Mary of Alphaeus, Mary of Clopas, Martha and Mary, and the Magdalene, all of them, resumed their labors with the ointments to go to the tomb.
The first light of dawn on Sunday dawned on the horizon. The women put on their cloaks to go to the tomb, and went out carrying an oil lamp, and each one a bag of ointments. Don’t you want me to go with you? Juan asked.
No, you might be needed here. You’d better stay with the “Mother”.
In the garden of the sepulcher all was silence. The sky was turning sapphire blue, becoming clearer and clearer. The soldiers guarding the tomb had lit a fire during the night. They had eaten, played and finally dozed off.
Mary, the mother of Jesus was praying in her room, reciting the Lord’s Prayer. The first ray of sunlight struck the large window, the risen Jesus entered with that burst of light. Mary raised her face to the suddenly opened window, and saw her Son before her, alive, smiling, in a white robe. Mary stood up and cried out with joy, “My Son, my Lord and my God!
And she stood gazing at him, now reassured by the smile and the vision. Jesus stretched out his hands to her Mother! It was a cry of triumph, of joy and love, and he embraced her, kissing her.
Then Mary understood that it was not a vision, but that it was her Son really risen. He was her Jesus. Mother, you don’t have to cry anymore. All is accomplished. The Redemption of mankind has been accomplished.
The women walked in haste and asked themselves, “Who will roll away the stone from the tomb? But when they arrived, they saw that the stone had been rolled aside and was a very large stone. They saw the soldiers as dead men. From the open tomb they saw a great light coming from within. They entered and saw a luminous, smiling creature greeting them, sitting on the head of the tombstone. They were surprised, but the angel said to them gently. Do not be afraid, Jesus of Nazareth, the crucified one, has risen.
He is not here. Go and tell the disciples that he is risen and that he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he said.
Then the women ran out of the tomb, they were amazed.
They passed on the Good News.
Jesus is not to be sought in the tomb but in life.
Jesus gives us the gift of life so that we can take care of it, protect it and promote it in our lives every day.
Sister María Dolores Prenafeta
Community of Cahabón, Guatemala
Province of St. Martin de Porres
