The Empty Tomb

Mary Magdalene and the other holy women rushed to the tomb of Jesus to anoint his adorable body. The holy women discovered to their greatest surprise, that the stone had been rolled away. They saw two angels in dazzling clothes who asked them an important question: why are you seeking the living among the dead?  And the angels continued: He is not here! He is risen! He is alive. He is Life. He is God of the living and not the God of the dead. You are looking for Jesus in the wrong place! (Lk 24:1-7)

Mary Magdalene and the other women had a good intention, they had a genuine concern but their good intention was not enough. The women made huge effort, they trekked some distance, they struggled to get to the tomb, but their effort was not enough. They took risks. They went to the tomb when it was still dark and dangerous, but their risk taking was not enough. The women saw an empty tomb.

The world is full of people looking for the right thing in the wrong place. Many people are looking for Jesus in wrong places – in the empty tomb. Many people are looking for light in darkness: seeking truth in falsehood; looking for wealth in fraud; looking for happiness in ephemeral things; looking for God in water, trees, mountains, and material things. Many people are looking for God in wrong places. Like people looking for water from broken cisterns that cannot hold water (Jer 2:13).

Mary Magdalene and the holy women were not being irrational or foolish by going to the tomb. They actually did the most reasonable thing by going to the tomb where he was buried. However, Jesus was not in the tomb.  The tomb was empty. Rationality alone, human reason alone cannot guarantee the experience of God. To see God, human reason must be purified and enlightened by faith.  Human reason without faith is sterile and prone to error. The Christian walks by faith and not by sight (1Cor 5:7).

Our search for happiness, love, peace and fulfillment in life is not foolish or unreasonable. But has our search yielded any results? Have we found the happiness, love, peace and fulfillment we are looking for? Are we looking for the right thing in the wrong place?  When we do not find the right thing in the wrong place we become angry, frustrated and depressed. The world is full of unhappy people who are looking for the right thing in the wrong place.

Only in the risen Lord can we find what our hearts are searching for. Are you searching for fullness of life? Jesus says: I am the life, I am the Resurrection (Jn 11:25). Are you searching for love? Jesus says: greater love than this no one has, for a man to lay down his life for his friends (Jn 15:13).  Are you searching for peace? Jesus says: peace I give you, my peace I give you, not the kind of peace the world gives (Jn 14:27). Are you looking for well being and wealth? Jesus says: ask you shall receive, seek and you shall find, knock and the door will open to you (Matt 7:7-8)

Mary Magdalene and the other women had to move away from the empty tomb before they found Jesus. We too have to move away from the emptiness of sin; we have to move away from empty promises of the world and the evil one. With the help of the Holy Spirit, we look for Jesus where He can be found.  And we look for happiness, peace, well being, indeed, everything in God alone. We have to look for the right thing in the right place.