From Grief to Glory: Discover the Joy Hidden in the Empty Tomb
Before the start of Talk 1, a short creative presentation brought the Gospel to life — Sis. In-In and Sis. Odette portrayed the two Marys who discovered the empty tomb, as the angel proclaimed that Christ had risen.
Bro. Joy, our East & Regional Chapter Head, then delivered his talk titled “Rejoicing Beyond the Empty Tomb.”
He began by acknowledging a reality: It’s not always easy to rejoice, especially in times of pain. Yet, as Christians, we are called to be joyful. Why? Because joy is at the very heart of our faith.
Joy in God’s Story
Bro. Joy illustrated this with two powerful biblical moments:
The Visitation – When Mary visited Elizabeth, both women were experiencing “impossible” pregnancies.
Elizabeth, once barren and advanced in years, carried John the Baptist. Mary, a virgin, conceived through the power of the Holy Spirit. And yet, their meeting was marked not by worry, but by joy.
The Resurrection – Before Easter morning, the disciples and Mary were grieving, fearful, and uncertain.
The death of the Messiah had left them wondering, “What now?”
But everything changed when the two Marys found the stone rolled away and heard the angel declare, “He is risen!” That moment transformed history — and humanity — forever.
As Pope Francis reminds us:
“The Gospel, radiant with the glory of Christ’s cross, constantly invites us to rejoice.”
Bro. Joy challenged us to rediscover this joy when reading the Scripture. In the early Church, disciples didn’t need notes or books to evangelize — they simply shared their personal encounters with Jesus.
Without the resurrection, there is no hope. But if we believe and live out His teachings, the resurrection will have a profound impact on our lives (Philippians 3:10).
“The One who fills us with His grace, who liberates, transforms, heals, and consoles us, is someone fully alive.” — Pope Francis
And through the Holy Spirit, Jesus unites us, gives us hope, and fills us with joy.
The Three Key Points of Talk 1
1. Fearful Yet Overjoyed
In Matthew 28:8, we read: “Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to His disciples.”
Fear often comes when we encounter something beyond the ordinary.
The two Marys, faced with the empty tomb and the angel’s message, were overwhelmed — at once afraid and filled with joy.
Their joy, however, was not shallow or momentary; it was deeply tied to the mystery of the cross and the resurrection.
In the same way, people outside our community may see our CFC activities — prayer meetings, household gatherings, endless service opportunities — as unusual or even intimidating.
But for us, what may look overwhelming to others is actually a source of joy, because we know it is inseparable from Christ’s sacrifice and victory.
Bro. Joy then explained the three kinds of fear:
1. Servile fear – fear of punishment.
2. Filial fear – loving reverence for God, like a child toward a parent.
3. Awe is the deepest form — a profound wonder and reverence in the presence of something infinitely greater than ourselves.
This last kind of fear was what the disciples experienced when they encountered the Risen Christ.
They weren’t just afraid — they were awestruck, overwhelmed with adoration and reverence, as they fell at His feet and did Him homage (Matthew 28:9).
2. Out of the Tomb
In Mark 16:3, the two Marys, together with Salome, went to the tomb to anoint Jesus’ body. On the way, they worried, “Who will roll away the stone for us?” Yet when they arrived, they discovered the stone had already been rolled back.
Like them, we often approach challenges with fear, imagining obstacles too heavy for us to move. But God, in His mercy, has already cleared the way.
In the same way, some people leave our community before truly encountering Jesus, thinking that service will be too demanding or burdensome. But when they return, they realize the “stone” wasn’t as heavy as they thought — because the Lord had already lifted it.
3. Rejoice in Christ
As people of the Risen Christ, we are called to embrace new beginnings, new learning, and new opportunities to serve.
Pope Francis beautifully says:
“After assuming our humanity, He descended into the depths of death and filled them with the power of His divine life… He turned a new page in the history of the human race.”
Bro. Joy also warned of three things that can trap our joy:
Comfort – Selfishness and a desire for convenience can weaken our passion for mission.
Fear – Fear of the future robs us of hope. Joyful people live fully in the present.
Complacency – Going through the motions without enthusiasm diminishes our service.
Despite his own disappointment that morning (learning he had failed his theology class), Bro. Joy still gave his talk with energy and conviction — a reminder that joy is a choice.
At this point, Bro. Joy introduced the sharers, Bro. Jayson and Sis Leslie Quilala, as “a couple whose love and enthusiasm for God cannot be contained.”
Bro. Jayson shared how, after joining the National Council, he and Sis. Leslie became household leaders. In 2014, while based in Dubai, he was asked to help revive CFC in Iraq — a dangerous mission at the height of ISIS activity.
Leaving his family was his greatest fear, but he knew God was calling him. Despite political instability, language barriers, and danger, he pressed on, leading Christian Life Programs (or CLPs), joining the music ministry, and helping distribute relief goods in Karamlesh.
During this time, the couple longed for another child. After seven years, their prayers were answered — but Sis. Leslie’s pregnancy was complicated by placenta previa. Their child was born prematurely at just 1.3 kg, yet they experienced God’s providence in a miraculous way: out of a $100,000 hospital bill, they paid only $300.
Bro. Jayson completed seven mission trips to Iraq before receiving news that their Australian visa had been granted.
In 2023, after 21 years in Dubai, they moved to Queensland, later becoming ANCOP Coordinators in NSW, and eventually settling in Canberra, where they now serve as household leaders.
“Seven” marked their story — seven years of waiting for a child, seven months of pregnancy, seven mission trips — a reminder of God’s perfection and completion.
In closing, Bro. Joy encouraged us to learn from Mary’s example.
Even while carrying the Son of God, she travelled 150 km to share the Good News with Elizabeth — doing so with joy.
May we too bring joy wherever God sends us.
But the story continues…
Next is Talk 2: Remembering Our Love Story with Christ — drawn from Matthew 28:10, it invites us to look back on how Jesus first called us, and to rekindle the love that set our hearts on fire.
Stay tuned as we reflect on our personal journey with Him.
2025 CFC CFC Cluster Prayer Assembly CFC-WA Couples For Christ Theme Weekend Retreat Western Australia
