Standing for over two hours under the three o’clock afternoon sun in summer, at St. Mary’s Church in Dubai during the Good Friday ceremony of the veneration of the cross, was killing me. However, the struggling discomfort became tolerable as the reading refreshed my memories on the consequence of man’s pride and infidelity to God. The sin of mankind, (including mine) was traded by God, sending His only begotten Son to a gory and barbaric death as an expression His love.
Stillness and peace followed that horrible crime of men at Golgotha. And while the apostles were hiding in fear, Mary of Magdala braved her way out to visit the Lord’s tomb to pray. Such risky and loyal gesture of love was blessed making her the first human being to meet Jesus, who asked her: “Why do you seek the living one among the dead?” (Luke 24:5) What an honor to receive such profound declaration of victory! The nightmares of fresh reminiscence of the gruesome crucifixion of the innocent Lord was instantaneously consumed with exhilarating joy of the physically hearing, seeing and experiencing Jesus, fully alive! For Mary of Magdala, it was a huge uplift of faith and supreme joy that never left her.
Such meeting was not just a monopoly of one person but rather a demonstration of how magnificent God’s love is. The same peace and joy that Mary experienced is a gift that Jesus continues to offer to those who seek Him. Let us then seek Him not in the tombs of the dead but in the hearts of our Brothers and Sisters where He dwells. The real key to meeting Christ is in having a relationship with Him; His coming to us while we search for Him. We may not physically encounter Jesus but St. Peter assured us that we can experience an even more satiating and fulfilling discovery of Jesus when he said, “Though you have not seen Him, you love him: and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy.” (1 Peter 1:8) With our ministry the Couples for Christ, we are privileged to have abounding opportunities to rediscover the Risen Lord among our Brothers and Sisters as we gather together in worship and service. We further enrich our lives with Jesus through our solidarity with the poor as we selflessly and unconditionally give to the “Padugo” helping thousands of faceless needy and unfortunate poor, restoring their dignity and rightful place under the sun.
Empty tomb means Jesus is fully alive! Let us empty ourselves and be filled with His enormous presence through the work we do in His vineyard.
A BLESSED EASTER TO ALL!
By Bro. Bads and Sis. Agnes Ellica
CFC Middle East Full Time Workers
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