Luke 24: 2-4
On Easter morning, the women arrived at the tomb. They are pondering how to move away the stone that sealed the it so they could get to Jesus’ body and anoint it.
2 They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,
3 but when they went in, they did not find the body.
4 While they were perplexed about this,
suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them.
5 The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground…
The unexpected has a way of throwing us off balance. I was sitting in the living room of my home in Kenya when the phone rang and my sister informed me that my father was near death. If I were to come home, now was the time. I was shocked. One night when we were in the “bush”, our chickens started squawking loudly. A six foot cobra had crawled into their pen! What to do? I have never come home to a house torn apart by a thief but we see the scene on the TV. Visions of the devastation of the bombings reaches our eyes each evening, not to mention the refugees fleeing to our borders. The unexpected demands a response. The women were “perplexed.” Another word might be confused, speechless, baffled or puzzled. They were “terrified” by the strange men.
When our routine is disrupted, our plans changed, we often say “life happened.” As Luke hears the report, he notes that the women see the open tomb, the missing body, and then two men in dazzling clothes – perhaps angels. John reports that the women ran to Peter to report. Mark says the women were “alarmed,” reported the angel and ran to report to the disciples. Matthew reports similarly.
How do you respond when your plans are upended and when you meet the unexpected? Where do you turn for clarification, and who do you run to? I see that the women were very human in their response of surprise and their feathers were ruffled. They were not super saints suddenly seeking prayer but genuinely responded as we might. I do see also that they found comfort from “an angel” and from fleeing to their friends. I do believe we are sometimes gifted with angelic visits but often God uses us to be that “angel” in the life of someone distressed at a life crisis. Crises are shocking and turning to friends and God is a good response. Blessings as you navigate the surprises of your day and blessings as you stand with a friend or your friend stands with you. A story is unfolding!
On the Way to Wonder 