The Day of Pentecost (A)—Acts 2:1–21

4th Century B.C.E. Thracian urn on display
Iskra Historical Museum, Kazanlak, Bulgaria

Photo by the author

A Brief History of Bulgaria

                  or

Ode On A Thracian Urn

The Thracians with their works of gold,

And then Bulgarians of old,

The Byzantines of Empire East,

Then Bulgars once again increased,

Then people under Turkish "yoke"

(A word old hatred still evokes)

Revival that was long delayed,

Turks overthrown with Russian aid,

A culture trying to transpose

Until the Communists imposed

A system that would steal the hearts

Of each one's worth and diff'ring arts.

Oh, can a country grow in pride

When hist'ry o'er the years decries

First one group, then again, another,

Believing only blood makes brothers?

Oh, can God's Spirit work its power,

Not by religion, but by showers

Of truth and hope and understanding?

And can we all, our love expanding,

Perceive with empathy each child

Of God, who on the world still smiles?

Oh, let us put our racial pride

And fear, and wrongs, and guilt aside

And work like heav'n to make a world

Where flags of love are e'er unfurled.

Scott L. Barton

 

He Qi: The Holy Spirit Coming

in The Art of He Qi

Oh, What Would They Do?

A sound like the rush of a violent wind

Filled the whole house with all of them there;

These tongues, or this ruach, this fire, appeared,

Like an answer to all of their prayers;

Oh, what would they do, with their Lord up and gone,

Out of sight, vanished, gone, disappeared?

Thus, fire from heaven, like Sinai encore,

All their doubts of the kingdom then cleared:

The news of salvation is not some obscure

Or exclusive thing meant for a few;

All manner of folk, of all nations on earth

Now are given the love that makes new.

Scott L. Barton

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages, as the Spirit gave them ability.

Now there were devout Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem. And at this sound the crowd gathered and was bewildered, because each one heard them speaking in the native language of each. Amazed and astonished, they asked, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? And how is it that we hear, each of us, in our own native language? Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabs—in our own languages we hear them speaking about God’s deeds of power.” All were amazed and perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” But others sneered and said, “They are filled with new wine.”

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Indeed, these are not drunk, as you suppose, for it is only nine o’clock in the morning. No, this is what was spoken through the prophet Joel: ‘In the last days it will be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh, and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams. Even upon my slaves, both men and women, in those days I will pour out my Spirit; and they shall prophesy. And I will show portents in the heaven above and signs on the earth below, blood, and fire, and smoky mist. The sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood, before the coming of the Lord’s great and glorious day. Then everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.’

 

Ascension of the Lord/Seventh Sunday of Easter (A)—Luke 24:44–53 and Acts 1:6–14

  

Vie de Jesus MAFA: The Ascension

Luke 24:44–53

From Stressing to Blessing

Luke's first book ends with the ascension;

Without much fanfare, his attention

Not focused high, is on the promise:

"He said that there would come upon us

The power on high that's from the Father 

That we might tell the news much farther

From here in town than we'd imagined!"

So thus, when what we now know, happened,

They had his words in their back pockets,

Until they'd come out from the closet

When they had dealt with all their stressing

By worshiping the God of blessings.

Scott L. Barton

Then [Jesus] said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; and they were continually in the temple blessing God.

+  +  +

Acts 1:6–14 

 

(A page from J. S. Bach's Mass in B minor with the line,  

ascendit in coelum.)

http://jewishbach.files.wordpress.com/2013/08/et-resurrexit-mm-60-63.jpeg

Ascendit in Coelum

They must have thought that they had failed

When, strung up on the cross and nailed,

He died, with all he'd giv'n, undone,

The end of all their joy now come.

But then, they briefly knew him there!

In upper room and beach, despair

Dissolved! How could it be, I ask,

That Love returned, with death unmasked

As powerless his end to make?

I know not how, nor could they take

This joy for granted, for he soon

Rose out of sight, while they, marooned,

Stood open-mouthed at such a turn,

Hopes dashed again, until they yearned

For his return; Now, more than twelve,

This fam'ly with their fears dissolved,

Are gathered, back in upper room,

This birthplace of the church, this womb,

Where soon, in eating, prayer and hymn,

By Spirit, they'll be born again.

Scott L. Barton

So when [the apostles] had come together, they asked him, “Lord, is this the time when you will restore the kingdom to Israel?” He replied, “It is not for you to know the times or periods that the Father has set by his own authority. But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” When he had said this, as they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him out of their sight. While he was going and they were gazing up toward heaven, suddenly two men in white robes stood by them. They said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking up toward heaven? This Jesus, who has been taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount called Olivet, which is near Jerusalem, a sabbath day’s journey away. When they had entered the city, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying, Peter, and John, and James, and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. All these were constantly devoting themselves to prayer, together with certain women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, as well as his brothers.

Sixth Sunday of Easter (A)—Acts 17:22–31; John 14:15–21

 Acts 17:22–31

François de Nomé: St. Paul Preaching to the Athenians 

 (ca. 1620–1624)

Walters Art Museum, Baltimore

Oh, What a Politician!

Oh, what a politician,

Is Paul among the Greeks!

He says they are religious,

Who e'en unknown gods seek;

And then with news he hits them:

The God who made all things

Lives not in what's made by us—

Our wealth, our fame, our bling—

But we, in fact (per poets

They knew) are God's offspring!

Which means the highest value

Of which we all can sing,

Is Love, like of a parent,

Defines our life and death;

Thus, Jesus be our policy

With every daily breath.

Scott L. Barton

Then Paul stood in front of the Areopagus and said, “Athenians, I see how extremely religious you are in every way. For as I went through the city and looked carefully at the objects of your worship, I found among them an altar with the inscription, ‘To an unknown god.’ What therefore you worship as unknown, this I proclaim to you. The God who made the world and everything in it, he who is Lord of heaven and earth, does not live in shrines made by human hands, nor is he served by human hands, as though he needed anything, since he himself gives to all mortals life and breath and all things. From one ancestor he made all nations to inhabit the whole earth, and he allotted the times of their existence and the boundaries of the places where they would live, so that they would search for God and perhaps grope for him and find him—though indeed he is not far from each one of us. For ‘In him we live and move and have our being’; as even some of your own poets have said, ‘For we too are his offspring.’ Since we are God’s offspring, we ought not to think that the deity is like gold, or silver, or stone, an image formed by the art and imagination of mortals. While God has overlooked the times of human ignorance, now he commands all people everywhere to repent, because he has fixed a day on which he will have the world judged in righteousness by a man whom he has appointed, and of this he has given assurance to all by raising him from the dead.”

+  +  +

 

John 14:15–21

 

The link below is to a performance of Thomas Tallis' 

"If Ye Love Me," 

with John Rutter and the Cambridge Singers. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6RgaPTo4hE

If You Love Me

"If you love me,

keep my commandments,

And I will pray the Father,

And he will give you

another Comforter."

"You're not alone,

When you keep my words,

(He says that it's forever!)

You sure have it made,

Since the Spirit's with you."

"Because I live,

You will live also

(How many times I've said that!)

Father, Son, Spirit—

Enough love all around!"

Scott L. Barton

(The poem's meter is a bit unusual: 4/5/7/5/6.  Jesus' opening words pretty much determined it.  Maybe his words determining things is how it should be all the time for us!)

"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.”

 

Fifth Sunday of Easter (A)—Acts 7:55–60; John 14:1–14

 

Rembrandt: The Stoning of Saint Stephen

(1625, first signed painting, age 19) 

Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon

Acts 7:55-60

Prelude to a Fall

Who knows if Saul, in seeing Stephen's faith so strange,

Was set to wond'ring if he simply was deranged,

Or if forgiveness was some quality divine

In Jesus that, in Stephen had life redefined?

I think he wondered, as he pondered what to do,

If all his zeal was misplaced, which next construed

A twinge of doubt in what he'd been, 'long with remorse,

Which then portended being knocked right off his horse.

Scott L. Barton

But filled with the Holy Spirit, [Stephen] gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

 

+ + +

 

 John 14:1–14

 

 

Way, Truth and Life

I am the way, and I am the truth;

I am the life by which you may live;

Let no one say that for God to be real,

One must utter God's name; then God will give.

"Is that what I said? Oh no! Read the text!

Right! It's my way, how I lived that's the key;

My goal is never to make folks perplexed,

But if you live my way, surely you'll see

The Father who lives in me, living in you!

You'll have all you need; all you ask will come through."

Scott L. Barton

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 

Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

 

Fourth Sunday of Easter (A)–Acts 2:42-47; 1 Peter 2:19-25

 

Trinity Loaf made from 3 local grains for Common Ground,

First Churches, Northampton, Massachusetts

                                        

Acts 2:42-47

The Devotee

They devoted themselves to the teaching served up

By the apostles, and each others' care,

They devoted themselves in the power of love,

To the breaking of bread and the prayers;

These two words, "they devoted," now fill me with awe,

What a gift that such zeal they had!

What a wonder that all were provided with what

They had need of, which made them all glad!

And not just in the temple was church, then, "the church,"

But 'twas even at home as they ate,

Where their generous hearts and their genuine praise

All the peoples' goodwill did create;

Not by effort or work did community grow

To the faith that we now still can see,

But from all that would keep us from joy are we saved

By the Lord, who's the first devotee.

Scott L. Barton

They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

+  +  +

1 Peter 2:19-25

Threshold

It's quite a puzzle, isn't it,

How by his wounds you have been healed?

It says "from sins," but what is that?

Some basic human law repealed—

The law that says each person fears

To lose what he or she has gained,

One's safety, wealth, or way of life,

The things you've worked hard to attain?

The way you have to grasp for more,

Sometimes, no matter what the cost?

But then some person gives his all—

It's like a threshold has been crossed,

Some door into a life that's free

From worry since this person gave,

Without a thought for self—and now

You, too, can act as one who's saved.

Scott L. Barton

For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly. If you endure when you are beaten for doing wrong, what credit is that? But if you endure when you do right and suffer for it, you have God's approval. For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you should follow in his steps.

"He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth."

When he was abused, he did not return abuse; when he suffered, he did not threaten; but he entrusted himself to the one who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the cross, so that, free from sins, we might live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. For you were going astray like sheep, but now you have returned to the shepherd and guardian of your souls.

Third Sunday of Easter (A)—Acts 2:14a, 36–41; Luke 24:13–35

Caravaggio: Supper at Emmaus, 1601

Luke 24:13–35

In the Breaking

This long and detailed story makes

It seem as if the writer knew

First hand "what things" took place that day

When Cleopas, and other Jews,

Recounted to this stranger how

"Their" leaders had turned Jesus in;

If Luke was there, then even he

Can't recognize the man as kin!

And even after teaching—words

You'd think that they would recognize—

It's only in the breaking of

The bread, the Lord is now reprised;

This breaking—word made flesh—by one

Born in the place called house of bread,

Is how in each and ev'ry age

We'll see him risen from the dead.

Scott L. Barton

Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures.

As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

+  +  +

 

Acts 2:14a, 36–41

Drop in the Bucket

It's almost like an afterthought,

The number who were added.

Before, the news that Jesus was

Messiah had been dreaded

Because, if he was dead and gone,

From whence would come their rescue?

What kind of gratitude was that,

To crucify, not thank, you?

Thus, at a crossroads did they find

Themselves, while Pete exhorted;

And heard God's reach extended wide,

And could not be distorted

To say that just a few could reap

The benefits of living

With knowledge of the God who made

A name by faithful giving.

But now, all immigrants to faith

Were welcomed without papers,

For Christ, in giving all, had waived

Restrictions on their neighbors;

Three thousand, in the bucket, then,

Was just a drop's beginning

Toward when a world with love for all

Will one day sure be brimming.

Scott L. Barton

But Peter, standing with the eleven, raised his voice and addressed them, “Men of Judea and all who live in Jerusalem, let this be known to you, and listen to what I say. Therefore let the entire house of Israel know with certainty that God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart and said to Peter and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” Peter said to them, “Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ so that your sins may be forgiven; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is for you, for your children, and for all who are far away, everyone whom the Lord our God calls to him.” And he testified with many other arguments and exhorted them, saying, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” So those who welcomed his message were baptized, and that day about three thousand persons were added.

Second Sunday of Easter (A)—John 20:19–31; 1 Peter 1:3–9

 

 

 Caravaggio: The Incredulity of St. Thomas (c. 1602)

 John 20:19-31

Your door’s too light to shut out God.

Young man—

Young woman—

Old man—

Old woman—

Middle-aged man—

Middle-aged woman—

Your door’s too light to shut out God.

You may think

You’re safe from trouble

And nothing can get in,

You may think

The door is barred

For fear of what has been,

You may think

That what you’ve done could

Never be forgiven,

Or most of all,

That love is gone,

Along with joyful living;

But when for all

That you’ve been through

You then expect the least,

The Lord of love

Will walk right in

And say just one word: Peace.

Scott L. Barton

(The beginning is a take-off on James Weldon Johnson’s “The Prodigal Son” from “God’s Trombones.”)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” 

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

+  +  +

 

1 Peter 1:3–9

Quasimodogeniti Sunday*

As in the style of newborn babes

We do not know what's yet to come;

Believers, by the world's strong powers

May, like our Lord, be yet undone;

And yet, there's more that's up God's sleeve,

An unformed hope by which we live,

It cannot be imagined; yet,

We trust the one who gives and gives.

Such trust is what will save our souls,

In gladness, now, our God extol!

Scott L. Barton

*Name given to this day because of the traditional introit's text (in Latin) from 1 Peter 2:2: Like newborn infants (Quasi modo géniti infántes) long for the pure, spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow into salvation.” This poem was also inspired by an interview with Bishop Thomas of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Al-Quosia, Upper Egypt, at http://www.presbyterianmission.org/story/carrying-cross-without-fear/

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By his great mercy he has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who are being protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, even if now for a little while you have had to suffer various trials, so that the genuineness of your faith—being more precious than gold that, though perishable, is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Although you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and rejoice with an indescribable and glorious joy, for you are receiving the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

Resurrection of the Lord (A)—Matthew 28:1–10

 

He Qi: He Is Not Here

in The Art of He Qi; also available at heqiart.com

Resurrection Key

A choral work, in major key, 

The Bach Magnificat in D,

Once made me laugh out loud to hear

Repeated music, that appeared

Within the Gloria Patri when

The music came around again—

As it was in the beginning!

Clever Bach, had, in our singing,

Taken us to where we'd started,

Scoring notes already charted.

This technique which Bach employed

Elicits, it turns out, much joy.

So, Matthew, cleverness displayed

With Jesus' "Do not be afraid;

Tell [them] to go to Galilee;

[For it is] there they will see me."

Why Galilee? It's at the start!

And there it is you'll find the heart

Of who the risen Jesus is—

In all the things he did then, viz., 

Forgiving, healing and inviting—

It makes this risen Lord exciting

Since you can see him there, today—

And Resurrection, thus convey.

Go back, the story read anew,

May then his life repeat in you. 

Scott L. Barton

(The idea that "Galilee" means going back to the beginning of Matthew's gospel comes from Tom Long in a Christian Century article, April 4, 2006. James Burton, conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra's Tanglewood Festival Chorus and B.S.O. Choral Director, reminded me of the name of the particular piece of music I sang years ago.)

This poem and all others for the year, with complete scriptural and title indices, are available in Lectionary Poems, Year A: Surprising Grace for Pulpit and Pew, at Wipfandstock.com and amazon; or from me, signed and inscribed, for only $10 plus $4 shipping and MA sales tax. Write me at scott.l.barton@gmail.com.

After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”