Matthew 28:1-10
There are moments in life when fear is the dominating feeling deep within the recesses of our mind, and there doesnt seem to be an ounce of joy, at least not at that moment. Being afraid consumes our thinking and it weighs us down. There are other moments when joy is the dominating emotion and fear is the last thing on our minds. Still, at other moments, it seems that fear and joy are residing within in us at the same time. Take this scenario for example: Waiting as a baby is being born knowing there have been some challenges along the way and you are experiencing some fear, worried that there could be complications yet at the same time, you are experiencing the joy of a new life coming into the world. We see something similar happen in the Gospel today. The women in the Easter story left the empty tomb with fear AND great joy to go and tell the disciples. On the way, they met Jesus, and He told them to not be afraid. It was now time to dwell on the sheer joy!