A Contemplation From The Empty Tomb
I have a short and sweet contemplation for you all today. We are still in the Easter Season so we need to remember that we are in a time of Joy. It was a moment for me to bask in the light of our Resurrected Lord and see how generously He blesses me.
The Empty Tomb
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put Him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; He bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered His head, not with the burial cloths, but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed.
-John 20:1-8
My Contemplation
I am walking down the road and see Mary Magdalene walking ahead of me. She has a basket draped over one arm that is filled with all kinds of flowers. I feel my heart drawn to her. To follow her.
She pauses as she approaches the tomb when she sees the boulder pushed to the side, revealing the entrance to the tomb. She peers inside, drops the basket of flowers, and hurries back down the road.
I approach the tomb hesitant. I look inside, but there is nothing in there except some pieces of fabric placed in a pile. I look down at the beautiful flowers tossed all over the ground. I bend down and begin to gather them up and place them back into the basket.
I am startled onto my backside when someone walks out of her tomb in front of me. He is dressed in all white, but whiter and brighter than anything I have ever seen before. I know it is Him. He is radiantly beautiful, softly glowing His own light, which I can distinguish from the sunlight.
The light is Joy. Purely Joy. And Pure Love.
I am overcome with that joy and get on my knees praising Him. He bends down picks up a single lily from the basket and holds it out to me.
I take it from Him and He gently fades away leaving me consumed in His gentle light.
As I sat thinking over this contemplation I was thinking how much of a gift there is in the empty tomb. What a blessing there is in the empty tomb. Our Lord gave the ultimate sacrifice in His death on the cross for me, a miserable sinner. That should have been more than enough of a gift. But our Lord is so generous He gives even more. He conquered the “unconquerable.” He conquered death itself and in so doing, released endless grace upon the earth.
I think about the many gifts He blesses me with: A roof over my head, food on my table, the ability to pay my bills, a reliable car, a good job… The list is endless, like His love and generosity. But He also continues to give Himself completely to me in the Eucharist, in the Sacraments, in the Sacrifice of the Mass, in the Teachings of the Church. He gave Himself completely on the cross, and gives Himself, the source of all things, to each of us, individually, every single day.
Keep in mind that He is not a magic genie, that will grant your every request. He grants, out of His endless love, that which will allow you to live with Him in heaven throughout all eternity. That is the ultimate gift of His generosity and love. He generously died on the cross in order to generously open the gates of heaven to us.
Take some time today to thank Him for His generosity towards you. I encourage you to take some time to bask in the light of His love in this Easter Season!
Thrive in Jesus, my Friends!
What blessings has the Lord given you lately? What flower would you receive from Him? What does the empty tomb mean to you? When/where do you feel the most love from our Lord?
New to Contemplative Prayer? Check out my post here to learn more!