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| Camaroon, Africa |
''When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the Mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ''Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?'' But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.'' Mark 16:1-4
The spirits of the women (notice no men came) had been crushed by the passion and death of Jesus. They were discouraged, disheartened, and defeated.
Two of these women, Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James, had seen where the body had been placed and knew that a huge stone had been rolled across the entrance to the tomb, so as they approached the gravesite they remembered the stone and realized that they couldn't move it on their own. Yet they continued on, with hope someone would be there to help.
We all have stones placed over our path to happiness and obstacles to joy. Yet once again as we celebrate the Resurrection of our Savior, we are reminded that only He can bring us true joy and true happiness, removing the obstacles of sin and suffering, which block our hearts from Him.