The Women

The women rise before dawn.
It was a restless, sleepless night,
their hearts heavy with sadness,
their bodies wearied from the
tensions and stresses of yesterday.
Sounds of the angry crowd at the trial
still ring in their ears,
their eyes red-rimmed and puffy.

Slowly, they make their way toward the tomb,
there is no spring in their steps.
The first glimmer of morning light dances
across the horizon,
the grass is still wet with dew,
the early mist begins to lift,
they arrive at the tomb,
they rub their eyes to be sure they are seeing clearly.

The stone has been rolled away.
The tomb is empty.
Their tears flow again,
as they wonder what happened to the body.
Angels appear and ask,
"Why are you weeping?"
Then Jesus appears and speaks to them.
Filled with wonder and joy,
the women run to tell the others,
"We have seen the Lord."
He Lives!
Alleluia!