Encountering the Resurrection

The word encounter has been defined as “an unplanned or unexpected meeting or event.” This is what happened Sunday in Augusta at the Master’s. Bubba Watson didn’t expect to end the day wearing a green jacket but he did. Wayne Mitchell didn’t expect to catch a historic golf ball but he did. Jay Busbee describes the encounter like this: “National history wafts through the pines and across the fairways. And every so often, it drops right in your lap. Standing in the fairway at the par-5 second hole, one stroke behind the leaders and 260 yards from the pin, Louis Oosthuizen unleashed one of the most magnificent shots in Masters History. His approach hit 28 yards short of the pin, then rolled as if down a gutter, and with one final rotation, dropped into the cup. It was the first albatross, a 3-under-par shot (also a double eagle), ever made on No. 2, and only the fourth in the entire history of the Masters. And it vaulted Oosthuizen from back in the pack into a two-shot lead. Smiling his characteristic gap-toothed grin, the one that's given him the nickname "Shrek," Oosthuizen then did the unthinkable: He tossed the potentially historic ball into the crowd. The lucky recipient? A gentleman by the name of Wayne Mitchell, who hails from New Tripoli, Pa. He caught the ball and almost immediately socked it into his pocket.” Only later would this fan realize the significance of his catch. The same could be said of Mary and the two men on the road to Emmaus who encountered the resurrected Christ. Little did they know that their experience would allow them to be the first witnesses to hail forth the message “He is risen!” Those words proclaimed centuries ago still bring celebration every Easter. More importantly is the fact that those words introduce to us the possibility of encountering Jesus for ourselves. He indeed is risen and desires to come face to face with everyone who will believe and receive. Why not let this moment be your time to encounter the resurrection!