He said to them, “Do not be alarmed;
you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He has been raised; he is not here.” …
They went out and fled from the tomb,
for terror and amazement had seized them;
and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid.
—Mark 16.6, 8
Yes, Easter is the bedrock
(rolled away) of our faith,
but before we settle into that exultant groove,
pause and give a moment
simply to be startled, and maybe offended,
as if God has made death into an April Fools’ prank—
or to be afraid, even,
that God upends everything we thought we knew,
that neither we nor our beliefs are in control,
that God will act and we will be dumbfounded.
Even our glib Easter faith will be blown away.
Faith is not certainty, but astonishment.
Christ is risen!
Whaddya know?
__________________
Steve Garnaas-Holmes
Unfolding Light
www.unfoldinglight.net
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