The Empty Tomb

The first day of the week.

The sun is rising, and the shadows are retreating.

After days of tortuous suffering and violence, the women -- his mother and his friends -- have come, at last, sorrowing and heavy hearted, to anoint his body and to honor his life -- to properly bury him.

But the stone placed at the entrance has been rolled away.

The tomb is empty.

The women, are met by two glorious messengers with a simple statement:

"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen."

And that statement changed everything.

Because the stone was rolled away, life was given new meaning.

Because the tomb was empty, the bands of death were broken forever.

Because Christ was risen, our Father in Heaven's plan came full circle. Eternal life, eternal progression and eternal families became a possibility for every child of God.

I hope, in the joy of all that this beautiful day holds, you find a moment to contemplate that first Easter morning, and the tomb -- empty of a body, but full of eternal promise.

Happy Easter everyone.