I have a friend named Gerry, who I came to know through being a chaplain at Geisinger Medical Center in Danville Pennsylvania. A few years ago she told me a story about an event she had late one night while on duty. She was called to the bedside of a woman who had a severe heart attack. By the time she got there the woman had been pronounced dead. All the staff had gone except a doctor and a nurse. At first Gerry turned to leave, but she sensed God tell her to stay. So she entered the room and sat next to the woman’s body. She told the remaining doctor and nurse that she wanted to pray for the woman and her family. As she began to pray she felt the Spirit praying through her. Suddenly, the dead woman bolted straight up and cried, “What’s going on here?” I don’t know who was more frightened, the woman, the staff or Gerry. Fear is a natural thing. It’s a reaction to the unexpected. And I don’t know about you but I haven’t had too many dead people sit up on me, and I don’t want to! I think we can understand and sympathize with the women in our gospel story today.
