Idle Tales, Errant Searching

Luke 24:1–12

But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in, they did not find the body. While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again." Then they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.

This telling of the Easter story is quite stark.

Take a look. No exclamation points.

Not one!

Save those for the liturgy and the hymns, I guess. 

I note two rich things in this telling of the story. . . 

"These words seemed to them an idle tale."

Lest you forget, the idea of resurrection is a bit out of the ordinary. A tad unexpected. . . 

And then this: "Why do you look for the living among the dead?"

Looking for love in all the wrong places.

Seeking the Gospel in the Law.

Seeking peace in violence. 

Seeking justice in vengeance.

Why do you look for the living among the dead?
I hadn't thought of any other possibility!
Why indeed!