Today is a time of special joy for us because some of our congregation have participated in Christ's resurrection through the sacrament of Holy Baptism, and the rest of us have (or will) renew our baptismal promises as we remember we have died and been raised with Christ. We will find a new pleasure in sharing the Eucharistic banquet with one another and our risen Lord. The alleluias will bubble out of us because we know God is faithful and we have something to celebrate - not life simply, but the new life that only comes from God and that is ours beginning now and lasting forever.

But, let's be realistic. I suspect there may be some in this congregation who, to tell the truth, may be feeling more like Mary Magdalene at the beginning of today's Gospel. "They have taken away my Lord, and I d…