Running with Fear and Great Joy

Monica Walton
7 minutes ago
4 min read

The beginning of the 28th Chapter of Matthew's Gospel was proclaimed at the Easter Vigil. It's the portion of Jesus' story that is essential to our Salvation, believing that what He said would happen did indeed take place. Throughout this week, we hear more about the days following Jesus' death from the different Gospels. A few specific verses from Matthew's passage resonated deeply with me. Come along and slowly absorb the depth of this encounter...one verse at a time.

[ Matthew 28:8~10 ]

So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell His disciples.

Think of all that had transpired in the lives of these two women, Mary Magdalene and the 'other' Mary (the mother of two of the 'brothers' of Jesus, who were His closest cousins, making this 'other Mary' a relative of Blessed Mary Mother of Jesus).

They were there through the good days and bad. They were there through the worst day when Jesus was condemned, tortured, and they watched Him die on the brutal Cross. All they could do now was mourn and pray together at the grave of their beloved friend. The last thing they expected was that the day after would be the best day ever. They didn't expect an empty grave and an Angel from Heaven telling them His body wasn't there. How could they wrap their hearts and minds around the news that Jesus had been raised from the dead and was on His way to Galilee? How could this be? They didn't understand.

Such a morning is enough to put you in a tailspin of terror. But these great women of Faith and Trust in God reacted not with terror, but with great joy and a different kind of fear. Some translations say the word 'fear' in this Scripture passage means awe and amazement. My favorite definition of their kind of fear is 'nervous wonder' ~ isn't that a beautiful expression of feeling? Uncertainty, but no need for proof, just obedient love.

Think of a time you felt 'Nervous Wonder'...a time when you were entering some situation that was challenging yet exciting, mysterious yet inviting, uncertain yet necessary somehow. I have felt that way many times, like when I was having a child, beginning a new job, moving to a new location, or traveling alone to a new city.

The two Marys were instantly blessed by their quick response with nervous wonder and great joy.

Suddenly, Jesus met them and said, 'Greetings!' And they came to Him, took hold of His feet, and worshiped Him.

Imagine seeing the Resurrected Jesus and hearing Him greet you so joyfully, like an old friend who is happy to see you! Have you ever wondered how you would react? Kneeling at His feet and praising Him seems like a perfect response to me. But I might have been too afraid to move because I often freeze up at the simplest, sudden movements and surprise appearances!

Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

Jesus immediately comforts and reassures them. And He gives them the most important mission of their lives: to go and share the Good News! He wants them to continue running with fear, nervous wonder, and great joy to tell others! They can't answer the whys and hows of His Resurrection; they can only share their personal testimony of seeing, knowing, and loving Jesus.

It's the same mission He gives to all believers. The fact that all four Gospels have a similar version of this Great Commission reassures us of its importance for the first disciples, for us, and for all who will come after us. It's the most important mission of our lives! Read the four accounts and hear the Resurrected Jesus speaking them to you.

"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age." ~ Matthew

"Go into the whole world and proclaim the Gospel to every creature. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved; whoever does not believe will be condemned." ~ Mark

"Thus it is written that the Messiah would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem." ~ Luke

“Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” ~ John

We do ourselves a huge disservice if we don't spend time reflecting on their meaning in our lives. When we were baptized, we were freed from sin, given a new birth by water and the Holy Spirit to live always as members of His body, sharing Everlasting Life. We renew our Baptismal Promises every year at Easter Mass, renouncing Satan, and affirming our belief and commitment to God ~ Father, Son, Holy Spirit.

Throughout these seven weeks of Easter, we make our way through the events from the Resurrection to the Ascension to the last and greatest day of the Feast at Pentecost. Let's quench our thirst by drinking in the Word that we may believe more fully and have the "Rivers of Living Water" flow from within us. (John 7:37-38)

Pause and Ponder

How well are we fulfilling our Mission as Christ commanded us?

Let's keep running with that Nervous Wonder kind of Fear and Great Joy to tell others how we see, know, and love Jesus!

Think of the many ways you have been blessed by God, and share that Good News. You will bless others with your story, and perhaps they will be inspired to want a deeper relationship with Him, too.

Even though we sometimes fear, doubt, and worry about sharing our Faith Testimony
Even though we sometimes doubt our testimony is worthy or will make a difference
Even though we sometimes want to walk away from the Church
Even though we sometimes question the presence of Jesus in our world today
Even though we sometimes wonder if the story of Jesus is true and real
Even though we sometimes worry that none of it really matters at all