Empire.  The Roman Empire. Power. Prestige. Might. Control.  The Gladiators, the Soldiers. Strong & Powerful. Impressive. Skilful. Successful. That’s where the power was, the control and it lasted a very long time. But at what cost? What price?  Force. Violence. Aggression. Oppression and Fear.  Beating into submission.  That’s how you keep power.  That’s how you hold onto power and make sure that it will always be the way and the only way to rule the world.  

Matthew’s account of the Resurrection read at the Easter Vigil reveals something staggering, something we must never forget or allow be explained away.  At the sound of the earthquake, at the sight of the angel appearing like lightning,  those charged to defend the tomb against anyone trying to take the body away.   Those men, representatives of the Empire, The Roman Empire of Force and prestige, ambassadors of violence and submission, Roman Soldiers (guards), suddenly become useless, become paralysed, stunned, like dead men.  Useless in the midst of such a  higher power from above, not of this world, a supernatural presence from above in control, in power.  They become incapable of doing anything to stop the stone being rolled over and  Jesus leaving the tomb.  So what happened? Where is their so called power, their ability to control and force submission?

The women, however, are not like dead men.  They are not stunned or paralysed.  They have always been and are open, looking for, hoping for another world narrative to be told and lived.  Looking for God. The Messenger from above has a message for them to reassure them.  A message that will give them life, new life and meaning. 

He has Risen.  He’s not dead. He’s not defeated. He’s not conquered.  

He is alive and is calling you to be alive too to his message, his new life, his everlasting love and mercy. The message of the Gospel.  The message of the Kingdom of God, the Kingdom of love.  God can only be found when we allow his love his way to take us over and make us alive, not “like dead men” 

“Christ having been raised from the dead will never die again.  Death has no power over him anymore!” Rom 6:9

“Christ has truly risen alleluia, alleluia!”