July 22nd - Reflection

Mary Magdalene, Apostle
John 20:1-2, 11-18 (NRSV)

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."

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
A couple of things come to mind here; Mary didn't even check in the tomb the first time to see if Jesus was gone, she ran to the disciples. Wouldn't you think she would look first to see if Jesus body was there? She jumped to a conclusion that someone had taken Jesus. But Jesus wasn't taken, Jesus had arisen.

In life there are times when I have thought that Jesus wasn't with me anymore. But then I have always been surprised by Jesus to find him always close by. And at first I may not recognize the presence of God. God may be with me, but God is with me through a friend of stranger, or a mysterious presence and God opens my eyes to God's presence in my life.

My response? To go and tell that I have seen the Lord. Jesus has come to me once again, even in my fear and doubt and sin, Jesus has come to me once again. Thanks be to God!

Prayer
Lord, you come each morning and knock on my door. You invite "Billy" out to play. Let's go! It's a wonderful kingdom. --- Amen