Theme verses:
John 20:1-18 Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
Then the disciples returned to their homes.
But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. |
Meditation:
 A young man—very distraught-- walked into the campus ministry center. “I’m lost. I can’t find God,” he choked through his tears.
Mary Magdalene—very distraught—walked in the garden. “They have taken my Lord away,” she choked through her tears. Moments of doubt and searching eerily creep into the hearts and souls of even the most devout of Jesus’ followers.
By human nature we seem doomed to question God’s presence in the world—in our lives. We root through our souls, trying to make sense of the world and searching for our Lord who seems at times elusive—distant—absent.
“I’m lost,” we cry out. “My Lord is nowhere to be found!”
When Mary was at such low ebb in her life, searching for Jesus and trying to make sense of the Good Friday horrors she had endured, Jesus surprised her. He came to Mary. He called her by name. His very presence reassured her and caused her sorrow to turn to joy.
Mary’s Easter surprise is our Easter promise. Jesus is present; he is our constant companion.
In places of despair and joy, Jesus is alive and present.
In places of doubt and in places of pure confidence, Jesus lives!
Today and in all our tomorrows we join Mary in proclaiming, “I have seen the Lord!”
Today and always we proclaim Jesus’ resurrection and we rejoice for we are never lost—never alone. Alleluia! He lives! |
