Dear friends in Christ: 

One of the paradoxical truths of our faith is that Easter morning begins with sorrow. In John’s telling of the Easter story, we can almost feel the panic and confusion of the disciples in the predawn hours when Mary Magdalene discovers that the tomb is empty.

Jesus had told them that he would rise from the dead, but how could they trust that promise after they had witnessed the brutality of his death on the cross? They were afraid, maybe even in hiding. As we know from the story of Cleopas and his companion on the road to Emmaus, some of them were heading out of town as fast as they could go.

But Mary Magdalene did not hide or flee. She stayed at the foot of the cross until the end, and she arrived to anoint Jesus’ body before the sun was up on the first day of the week. Because of her devotion, she became the first witness to the resurrection and the first to proclaim the Good News.

Like Mary Magdalene, we are called to be faithful in the face of grief, injustice, and anguish—even when the world is groaning with despair, and even when we cannot recognize Jesus standing right before our eyes. We believe, against all odds, that God has the power to turn death into life and despair into hope.  

This Easter, our world badly needs to hear this message. As we embrace our vocation to proclaim the resurrection, I pray that God gives us the courage to withstand the sin and violence in our midst and the grace to watch for Jesus in the most unlikely places.

Alleluia, Christ is risen!

The Most. Rev. Sean Rowe
Presiding Bishop
The Episcopal Church