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.
THOUGHTS:
Spring is coming, I said. No, said the cab driver, spring is here already, you just can't see it yet. My allergies reminded me that he was right. I had a runny nose for days because of flowers I could not yet see but my other senses were telling me were real.
It's often that way when we face challenges and disappointments. A relationship ends and we see only faults and failings. A job or internship we had hoped for fell through and we can't see anything else happening for us. The world depresses us. Someone we love gets sick or even dies and we see pain and separation.
Easter is like God giving us a new way to sense life. When Mary got to the garden, Jesus met her there but she could not recognize him. It was only when he called out her name that she really saw who he was. She was so excited to see him alive, she about jumped into his arms.
That's the way it is when we see life the way God does. We find gratitude even in relationships that have ended. Failed job prospects lead to new opportunities we could not have otherwise imagined. Even sickness and death are ultimately seen as temporary conditions.
Easter calls us to perceive life with more than just our eyes. There is more to living than landing a good job and making enough money to pay the bills and raise a family. The strength and will to change the world found in the power of love that makes everything seem vivid.
PRAYER:
Dear Lord, May your gracious love resurrect my senses. Save me from the dead end of cynicism and help me to see things in a new way today. Amen.
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Thoughts by Pastor Phil Hirsch, Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA
Thoughts by Pastor Phil Hirsch, Assistant to the Bishop, Metro D.C. Synod of the ELCA
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