Easter ushers in a new creation. The shameful embarrassment of Jesus, the Cross, and the horror of his death are now surmounted as light banishes darkness at the dawn of this new day, the First day of the new era of salvation. What can we learn of that first night, that holy night?
Having kept the Sabbath according to the commandment, the women came to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body, because they think he is dead. To find the tomb empty may appear to find nothing, but in finding nothing, the women will make the greatest find: the discovery that Jesus is Risen and will now be present in the sacraments.
6,000 years of Biblical Tradition Since angels appeared at his birth, so now they appear at his resurrection. Jesus is not in the tomb because he is life. They are now to seek death among the one who ever lives. The angels announcement affirms that the suffering and resurrection are part of the divine plan as foretold by ancient scriptures. Just as the fall of humankind came through a woman, Eve, so now the restoration is first proclaimed by women. Peter runs to the tomb and finds only the linen cloths, for Jesus leaves his clothes behind so that Adam could enter Paradise again in the state he left it – naked.
But beside all the concrete details which yield the credibility of revelation, we have the overall scene of fear and doubt giving way to faith and hope. The fearful women became bold. The insecure apostles became steadfast in their faith. Faith and fear cannot exist in the same place. The same with us. This blessed night remember what Christianity has done….nothing against us.