April 4th - Reflection

Reading
Resurrection of Our Lord
John 20:1-18 (NRSV)
Seeing the risen Christ

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.

Reflection
Weeping and then turning and not recognizing...then turning once more and recognizing. This day tends to spin me around in continuous circles. Turning to Jesus in fascination...turning to God in doubt at first...turning to Jesus in belief...turning to Jesus in joy...turning to Jesus in love...turning to Jesus to listen...then running to tell.

How can Jesus love us so much? How can Jesus care about each one of us personally? But somehow, Jesus knows how to deal with us as a group and knows how to deal with us individually. Jesus knows how to generate fascination, joy and love in all of our lives and each of our lives. Today, we have seen the Lord! Today, I have seen the Lord!

The cold hard stone of the tomb is open and now warmed by the Light of Jesus and inhabited by his angels. The cold hard stone of death and sin have been warmed into laughter and great joy. The cold hard stone of the tomb has changed! All has changed! The sick symbol of the cross has changed into a lovely symbol of life. And our lives have forever changed to belief in the Son of God, our Savior, Jesus Christ.

He has risen indeed! Risen from the cold hard stone of the tomb. Risen from the bloody mess of the cross. And risen in each sinners heart and this sinners heart this day, to bring life, joy and eternal Light.

He has risen! Run and tell!!! Thanks be to God!

Alleluia, Christ has risen...he has risen indeed! Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!

Prayer
Lord, this day you have risen in my heart! How exciting! How wonderful! How thankful I am! --- Amen