The absurdities are piling up.

Neither then nor now was it possible for anyone who was dead to return to life. And if it were the case that Jesus had risen, and thereby proven that he was the Son of God, then it was almost equally absurd in the eyes of the outside world that God would entrust some women with the task of proclaiming the resurrection to the disciples.

Yet that is precisely what happens – and the disciples were prepared to go to their deaths rather than deny it.

And that is why we know that it is true.

Welcome to listen to our reflections before Sunday!

Easter Night/Matins

The women who had come with him from Galilee followed after. They saw the tomb and how Jesus’ body was laid there. Then they went home and prepared fragrant oils and ointments. On the Sabbath they rested, as the law required.

At daybreak on the first day of the week, the women came to the tomb, bringing the fragrant oils they had prepared. Then they saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb. And they went in, but did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. They did not know what to think, but suddenly two men stood by them in shining garments. The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. But the two said to them: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen. Remember what he told you while he was still in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man is to be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and on the third day he shall rise.’” Then they remembered his words. And they returned from the tomb and told all this to the eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James, who together with the other women told this to the apostles. But they regarded it all as idle talk and did not believe them. Yet Peter got up and ran to the tomb, and when he bent down into it, he saw nothing but the linen cloths. Then he went home, wondering at what had happened.