Celebrating Joy Without Dismissing Fear
The women were at the tomb at dawn on Easter. They saw it empty. They met angels. The heard the news that Jesus was alive. And it says “the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy” (Mt 28:8).
Let’s think about two things: why were they afraid? and what did joy look like for them? Listen to your spirit to see what resonates with the women as we ask these questions.
Were they afraid that it was too good to be true? Am I?
Were they afraid of people not believing them? … that there would be division between them and their loved ones, or that they’d be ostricized? Am I?
Were they afraid that the darkness would come back? …that their own shame or sin would some how be bigger than Jesus coming alive, or that the injustices in the world were too much for even Jesus to handle? Am I?
Were they afraid that their lives would have to change? …that every ounce of their energy was now demanded in this new way of life? Am I?
But even though fear was present, it wasn’t the big one. While not disregarding the fear, Matthew points out that they were FILLED with joy. Joy was the dominant take away for them. So what was that joy really like?
Could it have been joy that all the people Jesus welcomed were now truly part of God’s family - that women and eunuchs were centered, children were blessed, the poor were prized, and an undiminished goodness could be found in every soul? Do I have this joy?
Could it have been joy that everything Jesus taught was actually true - that this upside down kingdom really exists where the first are last, where justice matters, where the economy is based on abundance and not on scarcity, where cooperation trumps competition, and where we get to participate in the renewal of all things? Do I have this joy?
Could it have been joy that we get to be transformed ourselves - that we’re not stuck in our own brokenness, that there is a way forward now, and it’s not about shaming ourselves into better behavior but about allowing our true selves to be gently coaxed out of the shadows and healed with tender kindness? Do I have this joy?
And finally, could have been the joy that in the end, love wins - that we can indeed know God’s love and that God’s call to love is possible because of what we’ve seen in Jesus and that no darkness and no death can stop God’s love? Do I have this joy?