A/N: Finally complete! Thank you all so much for reading this far. Writing this story has been such a satisfying, rewarding process. I hope you enjoy the final chapter!

Chapter 5

In the early hours of the morning Samuel became restless with not only excitement, but also fear and trepidation. What if the rumors of resurrection had all been a cruel lie he had been tricked into believing? The sun was beginning to rise, and there was still no sign of life from the silent tomb.

Just as his fears began to fester, Samuel was rescued by a gentle but strong voice calling his name.

"Samuel."

Though no longer weakened by pain and exhaustion, it was undoubtedly the same voice that had spoken his name three days before on the road to Golgotha. Doubt still entered Samuel's heart unbidden. Surely Lucifer had returned, and this was some new trick designed to lead the young angel astray. Wasn't it foolish to think that such joy could exist after all the grief and pain of these past few days?

"H-How do I know that you are my Lord?" Samuel asked, hardly daring to hope.

"Roll this stone aside."

The order was so commanding that even Lucifer would not have been able to disobey.

Samuel did not hesitate. He rushed to the stone and was surprised to find that he could touch it. Just as he began to push against it he heard a sudden cry of terror. He turned to see the Roman soldiers pointing at him and becoming pale with fear. Two of them fainted and remained deathly still on the ground, and the others flung their weapons down as they ran.

Samuel turned back to the stone and pressed against it once more. It rolled aside without the slightest effort. A blinding light flashed and quickly faded. In its place stood a familiar figure.

The Son still looked like a man, but there could be no doubt that He was now completely divine. His clothes were as white as snow and dazzled even brighter than Michael's.

"My Lord, it is You!" Samuel cried. He fell to his knees and wept for joy, all doubt blissfully washed from his mind. The Son stepped closer, and Samuel bent to kiss His clothes and His feet. The angel stopped when he saw the wounds that had remained. He looked up and saw the injuries on his Master's hands as well.

"Your wounds…?" Samuel said, confused. The Son reached down with one damaged hand and lifted Samuel to his feet.

"They are proof for those who will doubt."

"Forgive me, Lord!" Samuel begged. "I will never doubt You again!"

"All is forgiven, My child, now and forevermore." The Son's face held only kindness and joy.

"Now listen: I have one final task for you. Two women will soon be here with great sorrow in their hearts. You must tell them what has come to pass, so that they may tell my disciples."

Samuel reached up and brushed the tears from his cheeks. "I will do as you command," he said. But… He hesitated. Lowly angels had no place asking impertinent questions.

Before Samuel could say anything else, the Son voiced the unspoken question.

"You want to know why I chose you and not one of the Archangels." The Son's broad smile shone like the sun.

Samuel bowed his head. "I can think of hundreds who are far more worthy than I. I am no archangel, nor seraph, nor cherub."

"I chose you because you are the sparrow."

And just as suddenly as the Son had appeared to Samuel, He was gone.

Samuel looked around. Though his Lord had left, His presence was still everywhere. Samuel saw Him in the grass and flowers that now grew where only the dead had lingered. He heard his Lord in the birds that sang where no living creatures had ventured before. He could feel the presence of the risen Son all around him, creating life and light, being life and light. Samuel closed his eyes and smiled. He laughed. He danced. He spread his wings and soared.

Samuel landed back on the ground still laughing, and he wondered how it was possible for him to feel this much joy. Then he remembered his task. Two women would be coming soon, women who had suffered greatly and continued to suffer at the loss of One whom they had loved. Samuel looked at the stone that had shut his Lord away, the symbol of a grave that had been conquered. With a playful smirk, Samuel spread his wings and set himself upon the huge stone.

"Where is your power now?" Samuel asked of the stone. The stone did not reply.

He looked into the distance and saw that the two women were indeed approaching. They carried bags of herbs and spices, and their faces were dark with pain.

How can they not feel it? Samuel wondered. How do they not yet realize what has happened?

When the women got to the tomb, they saw that the stone had been rolled aside. The Father opened their eyes as they looked at the stone, and they were terrified to see a man whose appearance was like lightning.

Samuel remembered what Gabriel always said to humans who had never seen an angel before.

"Do not be afraid," Samuel said, and he was surprised at the strength and volume of his own voice. "I know you seek the One who was crucified."

The women, still afraid but now finding courage within their hearts, stepped closer. The one Samuel recognized as Mary Magdalene spoke up.

"Where is my Lord? Where has He been taken?"

Samuel saw that both she and the other woman were weeping. He could not bear to let them hurt any longer.

"He is risen," Samuel said. He spoke again, even louder. "He is not here, for He is risen! Come, see the place where He lay."

Samuel hopped off the stone and led the terrified women into the tomb, which contained only scraps of the cloth their Lord had been wrapped in. Their minds were opened, and in their hearts they knew that He was alive.

"He is going before you to Galilee, where you will see Him," Samuel said, hardly able to contain his own excitement. "You must tell His disciples, and quickly. They must know the joy you know!"

The women ran from the tomb, laughing and crying, trembling and rejoicing.

Samuel watched them go with a huge grin on his face. Soon the Son's disciples would know, and their disciples would know, and someday the whole world would know what the Son had done for them.

"Well done, Brother."

The voice was distinctly Michael's, and Samuel ran to it, no longer afraid of Lucifer and his half-hearted attempts at trickery.

Michael, looking brighter and more beautiful than ever, put an arm around Samuel, and the smaller angel leaned into the embrace, surprised at how exhausting all his joy had been.

"Well done," Michael repeated. "I was so afraid for you when Lucifer returned. I begged Father to let me defend you, but He knew what I should have already known. Forgive me for doubting the strength of your heart."

"How can I blame you for doubting me when I doubted myself?" Samuel said.

Michael smiled. "You are tired. Come, we shall sit and rest a while." He gently lowered Samuel to the ground just outside the tomb and then sat down beside him.

"Lucifer told me something strange before he left. He said I was no more than the tiniest sparrow in Father's eyes. Then, earlier this morning when I asked the Son why He chose me, He said I was the sparrow." Samuel said, softly.

"Did it hurt to hear it from the Son?" Michael asked, patiently.

"Not like I feel it should have. He said it with such…love. But I don't understand. What did He mean?"

"You may prefer not to know."

"Please, Michael."

The archangel looked at Samuel with a mixture of compassion and pity.

"The Son calls you the sparrow because you are small, weak, and seemingly insignificant. So are the holy Mother and Mary Magdalene. But you even more so, for when mankind celebrates the Son's birth, they will speak of Gabriel, Mary, and Joseph. When they observe His death and glorious resurrection, the names of Peter, John, and Mary Magdalene will be on their lips." He paused, but Samuel did not speak. Michael's voice softened as he continued.

"The name of the angel at the tomb, the first one to see the risen Savior and the first messenger to proclaim the good news, will be forgotten by humanity."

Samuel looked down. Michael leaned in closer to him.

"But your brothers and sisters will not forget you, and neither will Father. Not even the falling of a sparrow escapes Father's eyes. This honor He has given you is His way of showing that even the smallest creature can bring glory to His name. You are His precious creation, now and forevermore. Do you understand?"

Samuel nodded, his strength suddenly back. "I am His. Now and forevermore," he said, echoing Michael's words.

"That you are, Brother," said Michael. He stood up, grabbing Samuel's hand and pulling him up as well. "It is selfish to keep all this joy to ourselves. We must go find our brothers and sisters. There are songs to be sung!" He playfully ruffled Samuel's hair and then spread his powerful wings. He was instantly in the air, far above Samuel. He called back down to his little brother, "Well? Are you coming?"

Samuel knew he could not compete with Michael, but he spread his smaller wings anyway, reaching Michael's height a few moments later. The archangel smiled at his little brother before flying on ahead, clearly intent on being chased.

"Michael, wait!" Samuel called out.

Michael turned, concern on his face. "What is it? Is something wrong?"

Samuel just smiled and spoke the words that he was determined to say every day for the rest of his life.

"He is risen!"

Michael visibly relaxed. Though he knew that there were still battles to be fought, he could take comfort in that fact that today had been a pivotal victory for all of creation. Everything would be different now that death had been conquered entirely.

Michael opened his mouth and shouted his response loud enough for every demon and angel to hear.

"He is risen indeed!"

A/N: Thanks for sticking to the end! I really hope you enjoyed. Feel free to leave feedback and/or suggestions for what to work on next (this girl needs any inspiration she can get!)

I just have one more thing to say: If you ever find yourself feeling ugly, insignificant, or unloved, please please PLEASE remember how precious you are. Not even the smallest of sparrows escapes His sight, and you are not a sparrow but a human being. There is Someone who loves you so much that He died for you. You are beautiful, you are important, and you are loved.

You're not alone. PM me if you need to talk.

-Samuel