Simply by remembering Jesus' words and actions - much as we do every time we gather for worship or share in communion - the women are transformed, moving from fear to action. Excited with their new understanding, they go back to share the good news with the rest of the disciples, becoming the church's very first evangelists.

However, the disciples don't believe them - they call it an "idle tale" (the literal translation is "garbage"). Peter is the only one who decides to investigate for himself, finding everything just as the women described it. At face value, this is not a glowing endorsement of the women's skill as evangelists - 1 out of 11 is a 9% conversion rate. That kind of metric would seem like a failure to most of us, but in this case, one was enough. Enough to start a movement that, 2000 years later, we are still a part of. Imagine if those women had not been willing to risk failure by spreading the news that God had done the impossible. The difference they made by failing spectacularly, and influencing one person in the process - the difference between 9% and 0% - made all the difference in the world.

Easter morning, before Jesus makes his first post-resurrection appearance, invites us to take the risk of failing, in faith that God might just be doing something new that we can't see yet. After all, when God has defeated death, what do we have left to fear from failure? Christ is risen, so let's be brave with our lives, even if that means failing spectacularly for the sake of a radical Love that is stronger than death. Because - who know? - maybe you'll meet the resurrected Christ in the process.

Blessed be, Natalie

Rev. Natalie Hill Deacon