He is not here for he has been raised, as he said. Come and see the place where he lay (Matthew 28: 6)

If I was to ask you when were you last afraid, what you would say? Would you feel able to share that or would you hide behind a mask for fear of what others thought? This may include going to the dentist knowing that an injection is required; attending an annual appraisal at work with an overbearing or intimidating boss or having to go and see someone who has suffered a life changing event and being uncertain what to say or do.

Did you notice in our gospel reading the major drama? There was a great earthquake; an angel of the Lord descending from heaven; fear among the guards who shook and became like dead men. Remember what the angel said to Mary Magdalene and the other Mary.  “Do not be afraid, I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay”.

Not only did the angel tell them not to be afraid but as they were running to tell the disciples, Jesus suddenly meets them and also tells them “Do not be afraid, go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me”.

I recently had an MRI scan in hospital. I was rather anxious. What put my mind partly at rest were two unexpected things. The first was that I bumped into a friend in the waiting area. She was going for a scan too. We were able to chat.  I did not feel alone. The second was that the young radiographer re-assured me that she would not leave the scanning room until she knew that I was entirely happy.

Belief in the resurrection of Jesus is based upon two claims; that the tomb was found empty and that his followers experienced his living presence. These two considerations do not of themselves prove that Jesus was raised from the dead. Only you can decide by weighing up what you hear, read, experience and share with others. On the other hand there is the undeniable fact that a small group of broken men and some women who had fled most of them going back to Galilee where they came from, experienced something that not only turned their lives around but impelled most of them to give their lives to share the good news with others.

Pope Francis invites “all Christians, everywhere, at this very moment, to a renewed personal encounter with Jesus Christ, or at least an openness to letting him encounter them”. He continues “I ask all of you to do this unfailingly each day. No one should think that this invitation is not meant for him or her, since no one is excluded from the joy brought by the Lord. The Lord does not disappoint those who take this risk; whenever we take a step towards Jesus, we come to realise that he is already there, waiting for us with open arms”.

Whether we are feeling anxious, overwhelmed, doubtful or just perplexed, may we hear again those powerful words “Do not be afraid. He is not here for he has been raised as he said” and take them into our hearts and daily lives.

Even for me, Jesus did not fear to die.

To me, he gives courage.

For Him I fear nothing, not even death.

When I have Jesus in my heart, I fear no more.