As evening approached, there came

a rich man from Arimathea, named

Joseph, who had himself become a

disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate

ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth and placed it in his own tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said “After three days I will rise again,’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered, “Go make the tomb as

secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by

putting a seal on the stone and posting a guard.

After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and

the other Mary went to look for the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb rolled back the stone and sat on it.

His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were as white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are

looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here, he has risen just as he said, Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his

disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and

worshipped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee, there they will see me.”

Wishing each and every one of you a happy Resurrection in 2007.

         Amid Habib, M.D.,F.A.A.P., F.A.C.E.