Two Great Stories

Mary Magdalene gets centre stage at the core of these days, Friday to Easter Sunday in our church year, death to life in the Gospels. Here she is again, the first to visit the tomb?on the first day of the week?while it is still dark. The stone is moved. She runs to tell the apostles. Peter and another disciple run to the tomb. They look. They see. They go home. Mary stays.

In staying, she is blessed. In waiting, she is blessed. In looking, she is blessed. In asking, she is blessed.

Two angels greet her in the tomb. They ask, “Woman, why are you weeping?” “They have taken my Lord,” she responds. “I do not know where they have laid him.” Jesus appears. She does not recognize him. They exchange words. He says, “Mary!” She knows it is him. Her prayer of staying, waiting, looking and asking is answered.

The Easter text is not about resuscitation. It is about resurrection. It is about ascension to the Father, his Father, our Father. It is about his being present to Mary and to us now. By faith we know him. He has said our name. We are joined to his death and resurrection in baptism.

Dear resurrected Lord, we want to run to you, with you and not away from you. Help us. Amen. — TS

Contributed by Two Great Stories

Mary Magdalene gets centre stage at the core of these days, Friday to Easter Sunday in our church year, death to life in the Gospels. Here she is again, the first to visit the tomb?on the first day of the week?while it is still dark. The stone is moved. She runs to tell the apostles. Peter and another disciple run to the tomb. They look. They see. They go home. Mary stays. In staying, she is blessed. In waiting, she is blessed. In looking, she is blessed. In asking, she is blessed. Two angels greet her in the tomb. They ask, "Woman, why are you weeping?" "They have taken my Lord," she responds. "I do not know where they have laid him." Jesus appears. She does not recognize him. They exchange words. He says, "Mary!" She knows it is him. Her prayer of staying, waiting, looking and asking is answered. The Easter text is not about resuscitation. It is about resurrection. It is about ascension to the Father, his Father, our Father. It is about his being present to Mary and to us now. By faith we know him. He has said our name. We are joined to his death and resurrection in baptism.
Eternity for Today