Saturday Vigil – 11th April 2019 — Gospel: Matthew 28,1-10
Witnesses move with fear and great joy
Matthew’s account of Jesus’ empty tomb presents dramatically many details that are unique to the evangelist: The earth quake, the angel descending from heaven and rolling away the stone, the guards collapsing like dead men and the identity of the first witnesses of the resurrection. His resurrection story contrasts the life-giving power of God with death-dealing human authority. It moves from fear to great Joy.
The account of rolling of the stone is different in Matthew and it is an experiential event for those who are around. In the three other gospels, the stone had been rolled away prior to the approach of the women. In Matthew, first the earthquake takes place, and then an angel descends from heaven dazzling like lightening and rolls back the stone after the women arrive there. The women, the first witnesses to God’s triumph, experience the earthquake. According to Matthew, these two are the same women who watched Jesus die. However, the resurrection has already happened. The stone has been rolled away not to let Jesus out, but to let the witnesses in. The guards who tremble with fear, ironically, react to the opening of the tomb by becoming like dead people.
The evangelist also gives emphasis to the earthquake by making it happen twice. The first time an earthquake occurs when Jesus breathes his last, the rocks split open and the bodies of the saints are released from their tombs (27,51-53). The second time, an earthquake accompanies the descent of the angel from Heaven to rollaway the stone, that was witnessed by Mary Magdalene and the other Mary (28,1; the mother of James and Joseph 27,55-56 & 61). The earth-shaking news is found appropriate and parallel in the two events of Good Friday and Easter Morning, i.e, in death and resurrection of Jesus. They shake the very foundations of everything that was once thought to be much secured. It shatters all our human attempts to security and jerks us into the unfamiliar territory of God’s new creation. In Jesus, the reign of God breaks open everything that seemed fixed and immovable – even death and stone-cold tombs.
Yet this impressive resurrection story, with its special effects, is not merely a manifestation of Power on the part of God. But more importantly, it is an act of love on the part of God, who will not abandon Jesus to the grave, and will not abandon us to sin, death and despair. It is an act of love from God’s side that took worst of our violence and brutality in order to make all things new. No wall of stone is large enough to keep Jesus in the tomb. So it is with the life-giving power and love of God. No force, guards or security can stop the rolling away of the stone. Indeed, the resurrection of Jesus is an earth-shaking and unsettling event. But both Jesus and angel comfort us saying, “Do not be afraid” (28,5 &10). For the one who shakes the earth is the one who holds our future, who promises to meet his disciples in Galilee (28,10), who commissions the women to the disciples, and the disciples to all nations (28,20).
This resurrection story also begins with fear and ends with overwhelming joy. The angel’s first words to the women, “Do not be afraid”, contrasts with the guards, who are trembled with fear. The angel is commanding the women to reject their current state of fear, for his news brings great joy (28,6b-7). The angel sends them to bear the good news to the disciples, along with the message that Jesus is going ahead and they will see him in Galilee. The women immediately, “with fear and great joy” obey the angel’s command. As they run to announce the world-changing news, Jesus meets them and reiterates the angel’s command to stop being afraid. That He is alive and present with them makes the women to recognize and worship him. They are overwhelmed with joy. The resurrection narrative also highlights the same theme that was raised at Jesus’ birth. Herod reacted to the threatening announcement of a new born king by trying to exterminate him, by sending soldiers to kill all the babies in the region. Indeed, Jesus’ birth story begins with fear. After the crucifixion, when the religious and civil authorities succeeded in their quest to kill Jesus, they react to the threat of his resurrection by sending soldiers to seal the tomb and guard his dead body. God raised his Son by shaking the earth, which cannot be stopped by armed guards and an official seal. Indeed, Jesus resurrection brings empowering Joy to his disciples. Jesus’ birth shadowed by many deaths, but Jesus’ death brings the promise of resurrection life for all. Thus the gospel that began with a fearful king who tries to kill potential rival ends with overwhelming joy.
