July 30, 2025

Henryetta Free Lance
Login Subscribe Advertisers
Google Play App Store
  • News
    • Obituaries
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion
  • Sports
  • E-edition
  • Calendar
  • Archives
  • Contact
    • Contact Us
    • Advertisers
    • Form Submission
    • About Us
    • News
      • Obituaries
      • Lifestyle
      • Opinion
    • Sports
    • E-edition
    • Calendar
    • Archives
    • Contact
      • Contact Us
      • Advertisers
      • Form Submission
      • About Us
Walking as if empty tombs but truly carrying the risen Lord
Commentary
April 17, 2019
Walking as if empty tombs but truly carrying the risen Lord

The postmodern society is horribly bombarded by thousands of opinions on millions of issues- legal, political and religious, tearing the entire world. In the Church surely we are well aware

The Living Faith

The postmodern society is horribly bombarded by thousands of opinions on millions of issues- legal, political and religious, tearing the entire world. In the Church surely we are well aware how we are divided by opinions. In all matters of faith every Christian has got our personal opinions and die with them. From the Gospels we gather the same kind of rifts and dissensions occurred among the primary team of Jesus, especially after his resurrection.

It’s true that the first appearance of the risen Lord, as narrated by Gospel writers, was to Mary Magdalene, who later went and announced this good news to other apostles and disciples. It’s true also that Apostles could not digest the opinion of a woman. They thought she was hallucinating. But this woman’s opinion became popular and accepted finally by the entire global Church.

In the realm of God human opinion matters very little. Whatever be the talent of a person who generated that opinion unless it is connected to the risen Lord and his Spirit it will never become popular and eternal. It was not the talented proclamation of Mary Magdalene that gave continuity to her opinion about the risen Lord. Rather it was the Spirit of the risen Lord that influenced and possessed her that made all possible. This was the truth, which Gamaliel, a teacher of the law, contended before the Sanhedrin about the unrivaled post-effect of Jesus’ resurrection-factor: For if this endeavor or this activity is of human origin, it will destroy itself. But if it comes from God, you will not be able to destroy them; you may even find yourselves fighting against God. (Acts 5: 34-39)

And so is with the 2000-years-old proclamation of the Church about Jesus’ resurrection. The risen Lord has truly risen and with his Spirit he is at this moment pervading the hearts and minds of millions of people of this world. They have experienced him and his intervention in their lives. They encountered him in prayer, Scriptures and Tradition. Due to the effective influence of the risen Lord, sinners like Mary Magdalene and many other disciples, once died truly in their sinful past but then rose to new virtuous life. They are convinced now that, ‘the old life is comfortable; the new life is demanding. Yet the new life is rich and the old life is barren.’

These disciples, enlightened and enlivened by the risen Lord, emptied their entire body, their mind and heart, became liberated from all kinds of evil thoughts, words and deeds and began walking seemingly as ‘empty tombs’ but truly carrying the risen Lord. Whoever saw their lives and not just heard their opinions became energized by the same risen Lord.

Being the disciples of Jesus today, our opinion about the risen Lord should also become our life. Consequently our present life becomes a celebration of the reality that Jesus lives! As Paul exhorts us on this day of ‘SONrise’ we need to demonstrate our faith through our daily living. If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God… (Col 3: 1-4)

We too should try our best in ripping of our old sinful lifestyle and upholding a new order of life. Do you not know that a little yeast leavens all the dough? Clear out the old yeast, so that you may become a fresh batch of dough, inasmuch as you are unleavened…Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. (1 Cor 5: 6b-8) This is our genuine Easter proclamation. On this Easter Day, the Spirit brings us before the empty tomb of Jesus and asks us to meditate intensely on our opinion on the incredible fact of his resurrection.

A: Main
HPS gears up for new school year
July 30, 2025
As summer winds down, excitement is building across Henryetta as students, families and staff prepare for the 2025-26 school year. Henryetta Public Schools has released its official “Welcome Back” sch...
this is a test
Back-to-School Help for Local Families
A: Main
Back-to-School Help for Local Families
July 30, 2025
As the start of the new school year approaches, two local organizations are stepping up to support Okmulgee County families with much-needed resources. On Saturday, Aug. 2, both the Okmulgee Family YM...
this is a test
A: Main
County Prayer Walk is Saturday
July 30, 2025
An uplifting tradition that brings together communities, churches and schools will once again take place this August as the Okmulgee County Prayer Walk returns for its 9th year. The event is scheduled...
this is a test
A: Main
County addresss insurance, dispatch reorganization
July 30, 2025
A full agenda led to wide-ranging discussions and several key decisions during the July 28 regular meeting of the Okmulgee County Board of Commissioners.Commissioners approved various routine items ea...
this is a test
HEF Fundraiser Underway
A: Main, Main...
HEF Fundraiser Underway
July 30, 2025
James McCullough of the Henryetta Education Foundation (HEF) braved the heat last Friday at the Christmas in July event as he promoted the ongoing HEF fundraiser. HEF will hold a drawing on Monday, Se...
this is a test
News
OCEM Report
July 30, 2025
This report is a summary of activities Okmulgee County Emergency Management participated in and does not reflect all activities performed by or participated in by Okmulgee County Emergency Management....
this is a test

e-Edition
ePaper
coogle_play
app_store
Editor Picks
Fourth suspect arrested in Okmulgee homicide case
News
Fourth suspect arrested in Okmulgee homicide case
July 30, 2025
A fourth individual has been arrested in connection with the July 12 homicide of 25-yearold Devontae Hanson in Okmulgee, as authorities continue to investigate the deadly shooting.On July 24, 33-yearo...
this is a test
July 30 OSUIT Blood Drive |
News
July 30 OSUIT Blood Drive |
July 30, 2025
OSUIT will host a blood drive Wednesday, July 30, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Covelle Hall. Walk-ins are welcome.
this is a test
News
Short and Sweet
July 30, 2025
Psalms 8:3-8 - When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for...
this is a test
What is the lesson of Noah and the Ark?
News
What is the lesson of Noah and the Ark?
July 30, 2025
Noah and the ark, according to Nicole, 8: “Noah had built an ark, and other people did not believe him. He got two of each animal, and then he loaded all of his stuff. It flooded, and he lived.”A chil...
this is a test
Henryetta Celebrates Christmas in July
News
Henryetta Celebrates Christmas in July
July 30, 2025
Downtown Henryetta was alive with holiday spirit, buts lots of summer sunshine last week, as the Henryetta Chamber of Commerce presented its annual “Christmas in July” celebration. There were over 30 ...
this is a test
Facebook

HENRYETTA FREE-LANCE
208 E. Main Street
Henryetta, OK 74437

918.652.3311

This site complies with ADA requirements

© 2022 Henryetta Free-Lance

  • Contact
  • Privacy
  • Accessibility Policy