When times of crisis surround our loved ones, a million scenarios play through our heads: “If this happens, then I will do that. But if that happens, then I will do this.” Sometimes we do this because we want to be prepared. Sometimes we do this because we are afraid. Sometimes we do this because we don’t know what else to do. The beloved’s path to glory often contains tremendous obstacles. In our scripture reading this week, we see two ways that we commonly deal with crises surrounding our loved ones on our path to glory.

Mary found the empty tomb and stood weeping. When our loved ones are in crisis, we often emotionally share that crisis with them. We worry and weep for them. Perhaps you’ve been at the bedside of a beloved one who is terminally ill. It is very hard for some of us to leave, even for a minute. And we become stuck in the crisis. When we find ourselves in those places, we can rejoice that Jesus will stand behind us and whisper our name. Like Mary, we may not recognize Him at first. He may well be a visitor or nurse or chaplain, but somehow the words these people speak resonate in our hearts. We suddenly recognize our Lord is with us in this crisis. He frees us from our stuck place to help us move forward on our path to glory.

Peter and John saw the empty tomb and returned home. We don’t know all the details, but we do know that they were afraid of the religious leaders. Jesus had been crucified, and they might well be next. We find the whole group of the disciples gathered in a room with the doors shut. Oftentimes, our spiritual response to crisis is similar. If we have a loved one who is in danger or who is very ill or who is facing an overwhelming circumstance, our bodies return to our physical homes, and our minds and spirits turn inward. We ponder or fret about the storm around us, wondering what our next move should be. We can rejoice that Jesus will appear in our lives with the same words He gave His friends: “Peace be with you.” With this peace, we find courage to open the windows and doors of our spirit to see things in a fresh light - a Christ-light.

Jesus tells us that each day has enough trouble of its own. Let us not allow that trouble to cause us to become stuck on past sorrows or to hide from others. Instead, let’s allow Christ’s words to encourage us forward on our daily path to glory.