“Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet over joyed, and ran to announce the news to his disciples.” (Mt 28:8)

Have you ever experienced a time in your life in which you were both fearful yet overjoyed?  Maybe the news you had seemed to good to be true.  Where fear had control of your life, now there is a hope that brings joy.  This is the scene in today’s gospel reading from Matthew.  Mary Magdalene and the other Mary have just left the tomb of Jesus where an angel has told them that the crucified Jesus has been raised.  They are instructed to go and tell the disciples this great news and that Jesus has gone ahead of them to Galilee.  Along the way, they meet the risen Jesus and he says to them “Do not be afraid”.  

How many times in our lives have we let fear paralyze us?  Fear brings doubt, confusion and indecisiveness into our lives. Fear keeps us from experiencing joy in our lives.  Jesus promised to always be with us.  When we invite Jesus into our fears, he can help us face them with courage instead of running away from them.  He can help us recapture the joy in our lives.  What are the things in our lives that are causing us to fear?  Let’s offer them up to our risen Lord so he can give us his protection and guide us through them.  Let’s once again experience true joy by remembering that “He is risen! Alleluia.  Alleluia.”

 

Deacon Joe Trevino

St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church

Houston, TX