Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
The resurrection of Jesus had been announced to them by an angel, bright with the light of a the dawn of a day full of new hope. The angel reminded them that Jesus had in fact foretold his resurrection multiple times while he was still with them and was now fulfilling those promises. This angel, radiant with the glory of heaven, and conveying the words of Jesus, helped the women to overcome the paralysis of fear and to begin to taste the joy of the resurrection. But even this angelic message could not entirely overcome the fear induced by the traumatic events of the crucifixion of Jesus on its own. Only an encounter with the risen Christ could do that. Hearing about him, even from an angel, left some room for fear. But the light of the risen Christ cast out all fear.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
This was no ethereal spirit or ghost. He was solid enough for them to embrace his feet. Nor had he returned for vengeance. Rather, his resurrection was already the vindication of all he had said and taught, a proof that he was who he claimed to be. His true enemies, death, sin, and the devil, had been definitively defeated. They had done their worst against him and found it was not enough. And so when Jesus said "Do not be afraid" he was uniquely qualified to say it, since every possible cause of fear had been conquered. It was this victory of life over death that he wished to convey to the apostles whom he now called his brothers. This brings to mind Psalm 22 which he had earlier quoted from the cross, asking "Why have you forsaken me?". But it continued:
I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will praise you:
And so we too are called to join Jesus in proclaiming the the gift of the resurrection. We too are called to become witnesses, like the women at the tomb, to those who do not yet know that death has been defeated. There are many who still live in darkness even though the light of the resurrection has changed the world forever who desperately need to hear this message.
You who fear the LORD, praise him!
All you offspring of Jacob, glorify him,
and stand in awe of him, all you offspring of Israel!
There are some who still collude to oppose the truth of the resurrection, even as the chief priests and elders attempted to cover it up with a flimsy and fictious alternative story. Such people are invested in the darkness and stand to lose such things as status and power if the resurrection turns out to be true. They will no longer be able to manipulate others with sin, addiction, and death. But such people as these are not enemies, so much as pitiable and lost individuals who do not realize what they are missing. The supposed power and status one might lose in accepting the resurrection of Jesus will seem like less than nothing compared to the peace and joy that come instead. Therefore, even those who are hostile opponents of the resurrection still need to hear the message. It is for them too, indeed for all people.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
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