Eucharistic Readings for the Principle Service on Easter Day:
Acts 10:34 to 43; Psalm 118:1 and 2 and 14 to 24; 1st Corinthians 15:1 to 11; John 20:1 to 18:
“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.” (John: 20: 11 and 12)
The life story of Mary Magdalene is amazing. We learn from the Gospel of Luke that she was possessed by seven demons which Jesus drove out of her. Doing this, Jesus gave her back to herself. This man that has been crucified, died and was buried, the restorer of her life, has been taken away, – taken away from her before she has had time not only to attempt to repay him for all he has done for her, but now, even in his death, his body has been taken away before she can give his body the proper anointing as is the custom of her people. She feels sad that she has failed him in this way. So, yes, she is crying because of her great sadness.
My beloved of the Lord, we too have this in common with Mary Magdalene. We owe who we are to our Lord Jesus. But this is only true if we are living lives of dedication to our Lord Jesus as did Mary. This life of dedication begins at our baptism. And we are aided by those who say that they will do all in their power to assist the newly baptized in their walk in following Christ (with God’s help of course).
Can you only imagine how elated she must have been when the supposed gardener called her by her name, and in a voice she was all too familiar with? “Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher)” (John 20:16). She then gives the shortest, but most powerful sermon ever recorded; her words changed our planet forever. I can see Mary running back to the doubting apostles yet again, and running out of the pages of the Gospel and right into our hearts today, perhaps barefoot and in the rain, with tears now of great joy streaming down her cheeks, and preaching her sermon, Alleluia; He Is Risen!
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia and our schools.
As we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
onewhoponders 