Overjoyed...Released from Death

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 2:14, 22-33 ~~~  Psalm 16 ~~~ Matthew 28:8-15 ~~~

...fearful yet overjoyed...

We know too well what fearful looks like and feels like,

but how would you express overjoyed?

Throughout the Scriptures we have examples of those who were overjoyed 

by the miracles Jesus performed.

...Walking....Seeing...Hearing...

Many people are overjoyed today too.

Imagine the survivor after having lost both legs, walks again 

on their prosthetic legs...

...the stoke victim who learns to speak again...

or the liver transplant recipient who is no longer facing eminent death.

We too can find times in our life when we have been overjoyed.

Sometimes even things we feared can transform into sources of joy.

We fear the unknown; we are overjoyed by the known.

And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.

I can just imagine Martha and Mary seeing Jesus,

looking at one another and 

saying, He really has been raised!

Maybe they even jumped in the air with joy

right before they fell to their knees to kiss his feet.

At that very moment nothing could take away their joy.

But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,
because it was impossible for him to be held by it.

Saint Paul says it well...

it was impossible for death to hold on to Jesus.

For Jesus death was the price he paid for our salvation...

it was never meant to be a permanent state.

Because we too believe in the Resurrection.

Death is not meant to be permanent for us either.

What we feel overjoyed by today 

does not compare to the joy awaiting for us in heaven.

May all your fears transpire into being overjoyed.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Overjoyed with Blessings!