Mary Magdalene peers into the empty tomb and doesn't understand what she sees in the darkness. She runs to get the others to come and see --- they too see an empty tomb littered with burial clothes. They see that Jesus isn't there, but "they did not yet understand that he had to rise from the dead."

In many ways, it seems as though all of us are like those first followers of Jesus, seeing that Jesus was not really dead, but not understanding the implications. For if we truly understood that Jesus had died for our sins, surely we would live differently. If we truly understood that we have nothing to fear --- if we knew that the rejection, failure, and insecurity that so terrify us cannot really harm us --- then we would be liberated to love and serve others rather than protect ourselves. If we truly understood that Jesus has overcome death not just for himself but for all of us, we would have no cause to deceive, compete with, threaten or hurt one another.

Clearly, the human race and even the Christian churches have not fully embraced the Gospel message. The conflicts in our world, in our communities and in our churches seem to intensify over time. Religious hatred seems as fierce as it has ever been. Jesus died, we're told, to heal all of this.

We don't seem to have fully comprehended the reality of the Resurrection. Maybe I should just speak for myself. While I have been enthralled with the Gospel message for most of my adult life, I still struggle to look out for the needs of others before taking care of myself, and to live as if I have been liberated from the fear of death.

In fact, I fear far more trivial matters than death --- social failure, a tarnished reputation, rejection by friends and family. These relatively minor pains terrify me. I am like Mary and the disciples, looking into that gaping cave, thrilled and terrified to see that Jesus is not there but not fully empowered by his resurrection.

Easter Sunday gives us that first brilliant glimpse of the risen Lord. His suffering, and ours, is not the end of the story. Clearly the Resurrection is not the end of the story, either. We are all on a journey to follow Jesus to the completeness that he experienced. Some of us are farther along than others. Our conversions, demonstrated so powerfully in the Easter Vigil with the baptism of the elect, is ongoing. We must continue to follow and continue to be transformed into his likeness.

The fact that we are not yet complete, and that our world is still broken, should not keep us from celebrating the glory of Easter. In Christ, God endured the very worst that human beings could deliver, and demonstrated that God loves us still. The Resurrection is our proof of God's unyielding love, and fathomless compassion. God knows we need it --- every day, and every year. And for that we can and will be eternally grateful.

Bill Peatman writes from Napa.