In today's Gospel reading the women take center stage; indeed, in each of the Gospels it is one or more women who are the first at the tomb and receive the first visits of the Risen Lord.  They have faith in Jesus, and yet they are “half overjoyed, half afraid” at the sight of the Lord even if He says “Peace!” to them.  I cannot fault them for their feelings, since if Jesus suddenly appeared to me I would have the same reaction. 

We believe that God exists, and that Jesus was incarnate in the world, a full human being right alongside the rest of us, but... would we know Him if we saw Him today?  It would not be a matter of recognizing His face, of course, but of just “knowing” Him from the way He would look at us. 

We will meet Him in death, one way or another, and how will we feel about that, seeing the true and full face of our God one on one (at least to the full extent of our full human limits)? 

The question in my mind, then, is whether I am getting to know Him as well as I can right now, whether I am seeking to know Him in every guise He wears.  Do I try to find Him in every person I meet, whether I like them or not?  Can I find Him present and active in every situation?  Can I believe that every moment of my life is an opportunity to find Him at work in me and in His world?  Am I seeking not only to understand His teachings and to put them into practice, but more importantly am I yearning to let myself be formed by His loving heart?  To deeply know and love the true God?