UTRECHTER UNION DER ALTKATHOLISCHEN KIRCHEN
UNION OF UTRECHT OF THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCHES

ENGLISCH / ENGLISH

Do not be alarmed!
You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He has been raised; he is not here.
Look, there is the place they laid him.
He is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see Him.

Easter puts us on the spot, it challenges us: we need to look and see in a different way.  To look ‘afresh’ at that same world, our world. To  look ‘afresh’ at that same reality, our reality.

We need to learn and look through the desire that love will not – in fact, will never- taste defeat. The question, however, is whether we dare to trust our own desire, because without such a desire Jesus’ Resurrection will be lost on us.  The Resurrection  could become a wild fantasy of pitiful people, who are armed against the logic of the sheer facts.

When the young church heard the gospel of Mark read out on Easter Morning, they must undoubtedly have experienced that same challenge to look at the same things in a different way.  The whole of Mark’s gospel is one major exercise to change our perspective. It urges the disciples to learn and look at reality with the following of Jesus in mind. ‘Follow me’ is how Jesus admonishes his disciples, because only from that perspective the reality filled with the colour of hope will become visible. Only those who follow him will truly experience Easter.

The women, on their way to the grave at dawn, are mainly concerned about who will roll away the stone. All they want is to embalm Jesus’ dead body with fragrant oil. The truth is that the stone weighs upon their hearts. The question about the meaning of the events around Jesus is locked in by that stone, deep down in the dungeon of death, with its obvious answer. Imagine their surprise! The stone has been rolled away and everyone is granted free access, including the women. They enter the grave but fail to find the deceased but instead they are met by a messenger. ‘Jesus is not here! He is going ahead of you to Galilee!’

To see with a new eye, to look ‘afresh’ is something we learn in Galilee or rather amidst our daily troubles and sorrows. By following him we learn to deal with unresolved questions and doubts, in a world where people don’t seem to be able to find peace and reconciliation. By following him we learn that our desire for love is not foolish, but in the end will be met and confirmed. And all of a sudden we will notice how much love can be found amongst people. Yes, so much love that is becomes contagious.

Truly: the Lord is risen! Alleluia! do not be alarmed!
+ Dr. Joris Vercammen
Archbishop of Utrecht

UTRECHTER UNION DER ALTKATHOLISCHEN KIRCHEN
UNION OF UTRECHT OF THE OLD CATHOLIC CHURCHES

ENGLISCH / ENGLISH