Mark’s blunt ending of his Gospel and his telling of the resurrection story leave us to face the reality of resurrection and the sweeping changes it brings. We are often resigned to live with death, to dwell among the tombs. Jesus has gone on ahead of us, and challenges us to lay down our excuses, our crutches, and all the trappings of death, and to boldly embrace the radical, revolutionary realities made possible by Jesus’ resurrection from the dead. Text is Mark 16:1-8.