The word empty does not usually strike us as inspirational or comforting. Most read the word and immediately think of the standard definition: “containing nothing,” “unoccupied,” or simply “gone.” Another definition describes empty as “lacking reality, substance, meaning, or value.”

It is human nature to spend our time seeking fulfillment in things, believing that with the newest thing we may find true happiness. A new car gives us incredible excitement, and then comes the first scratch. We walk into that brand-new home, and we soon experience the expenses of homeownership. We fill the tank for a road trip, and the “E” arrives too often. We seek fulfillment where it cannot be found.

I have reflected on the word “empty” quite a bit over the years because of the stories shared with me when discussing the death of a loved one. The empty chair is a common reference for the death of someone we love. It is a word that tends to make us feel bad or just empty inside; lonely. Even the synonyms are filled with hopelessness, such as devoid, barren, or hollow; all of which destroy any possibility of something hopeful, and yet it connects us to the greatest symbol of hope ever gifted to humanity: the empty tomb.

Imagine, for a moment, walking with Mary Magdalene as she approached the tomb of Jesus and discovered that it was empty. Her initial reaction was one of shock and concern because in her mind Jesus was dead and someone took Him. In her mind, the empty tomb was a dreadful thing because it meant that someone did something to “our Lord.”  Unbeknownst to Saint Mary Magdalene, in that moment empty became a word filled with hope and a fulfillment of God’s promise to humanity.

When you look in that room, and your loved one is no longer there, the pain of the empty space is a reminder that they are gone. Death creates a void and an emptiness that leads to actual physical pain, and hope is not something we care to see. Empty is sadness, even depression, and the synonyms of empty are even worse. You will find words that describe the feeling brought by death, and none provide any possibility of hope. It is only in the Risen Christ that hope is found.

Stop seeking joy in the things that distract us. The new car smell does not last, but focusing on your relationship with God and the Son brings fulfillment that is only found in the reason for the empty tomb.

God Bless

Andrej N. Lah