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| She probably didn't recognize him because of the hat. |
[ Today's Readings ]
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
Why are we weeping? Jesus is risen! He is risen indeed! And yet we weep. We assume that the most recent challenge or catastrophe that we face has finally proved too much for the risen LORD. We weep because we believe that circumstances have finally separated us from the love of God in Christ. But this is not so!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? As it is written,
"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us (see Romams 8:35-39).
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
This is what it means for Jesus to be risen. This is why any weeping now is weeping outside of an empty tomb.
Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?"
We are looking for Jesus even though he is right here with us. The trouble is that we get so self-involved that we fail to recognize him.
Jesus said to her, "Mary!"
She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni,"
which means Teacher.
This is part of what it means that God has made Jesus both "Lord and Christ" even though we ourselves crucified him through our sins. He is now available to us no matter what circumstances or challenges we face. How then do we respond when we recognize his presence?
Peter said to them,
"Repent and be baptized, every one of you,
in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins;
and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
For the promise is made to you and to your children
and to all those far off,
whomever the Lord our God will call."
We ask for more of the Holy Spirit. This is what he wants to give us. It is the power of his risen life, not just for him, but for all who believe in him, whomever the Lord will call. It is the only way to stand firm against the winds that assail us. Without the Spirit this corrupt generation will overwhelm us and claim us once again as one of its own. This is the only thing worth fearing, and we have been offered the strength so that we can stand firm in the LORD. Let us receive it.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine.
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