The horror had ended. It had been a dreadful last two days - to watch as our beloved
teacher was mocked, beaten and tortured. He was taunted by the officials and the
crowds. Where were all his friends, his followers, his band of now eleven? How would
we ever forget his broken and bleeding body?
Joseph of Arimathea, a good man, asked Pilate for Jesus' body so he could bury him. It was a blessing - we feared he would be thrown on the refuse heap as those who are crucified usually are. Joseph, although a member of the Council, did not agree with their treatment of Jesus, for he was a secret disciple of Jesus.
Joseph, together with Nicodemus, wrapped Jesus' body in linen cloths containing spices of myrrh and aloes, and placed him in a newly-made tomb dug from solid rock.
What a long and sad Sabbath it was. I gathered with the others from Galilee - we wept together and tried to find comfort from one another, but our hearts were so heavy. Our hopes were crushed. What would we do without him?
I slept little those two nights, but finally the morning after the Sabbath I went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed! I ran to Simon Peter and John and said "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." Peter and John ran to the tomb and saw the linen wrappings lying there.
I followed and stood weeping outside the tomb. I looked into the tomb and saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying. They asked why I was crying, and while I was explaining, a man said to me "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" I thought maybe he had taken Jesus' body and I asked him where I might find the body. But the man responded, "Mary!", and suddenly I realized it was my Lord!
Oh, can it be?! Is it really true?! Is it possible?! Oh yes! I was overjoyed!!!
My Lord said to me, "Go to my brothers and say to them 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God'".
My Lord has risen! Alleluia!! I felt like dancing and singing with joy. I then ran to tell the others, so that they too, may Share in the Good News!