Candice's Comments

Roll away your stone, I'll roll away mine

Together we can see what we will find

Don't leave me alone at this time

For I am afraid of what I will discover inside.

                                                                    - Mumford & Sons, "Roll Away Your Stone"

The season of Easter continues and the journey through Easter is one of movement:

From rolling away the stone at Jesus’ tomb

to stones flying at the Church’s first martyr.

From the women rushing to tell the disciples that Jesus is gone

to the members of the early church gathering

and supporting one another.

From Jesus walking with his disciples on the road to Emmaus

to the movement of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.

The experience of Easter and the days that follow are at the same time personal and communal. Jesus has individual encounters with some of his disciples (Mary Magdalene, Thomas) after the Resurrection, but he encourages them – and all of his disciples – to go and share his message of love, justice, and peace with the whole world.

As the disciples go about laying the foundation of the early church, Jesus urges them to remember his commandments, gather in unity, and lean on the Holy Spirit as a guide.

I don’t know if the English folk rock band Mumford & Sons were thinking about the Resurrection when they wrote the lyrics to “Roll Away Your Stone,” but it personalizes the idea of uncovering the unknown, accompanied by God’s grace.

When the stone is rolled away on Easter – Jesus is gone! But he soon reappears – the risen Christ – to his friends and disciples. Their fear and sadness turn to joy!

As Easter people we are called to be witnesses to the everlasting life, hope, and renewal that are part of the Resurrection. There are plenty of times when we as individuals and as a church need God’s grace and love to see us through times when we doubt and disagree, but our Easter call is clear! Christ is risen!

We can respond “Christ is risen indeed!” through our words and our actions as witnesses to the power of God’s love.

                                                                          Witnessing with you to the risen Christ,

                                                                                                     Candice