As the dawn began to make its way through the darkness, Mary went to the garden and saw the stone rolled away. She runs and tells the others and after they see for themselves, they leave
full of grief.
Mary, however, is unable to walk away. She stands there in her deep grief until she hears a voice asking her why she is crying. It is the voice that speaks to each and every one of us who has ever known what it is like to be
helpless, unable to affect one’s destiny.
In her anguish, Mary is blind to the reality before her until she hears her name, “Mary.” It is then she sees him.
I sometimes wonder if Jesus spoke Mary’s name, if she was the first one to recognize the resurrection because she was the one that stayed with her pain, refusing to run away from the hurt and confusion of the moment. I wonder if this was the first sign that the Risen Christ would always be present when pain and fear threaten to rule the day.
In many ways Easter began the moment the voice said, “Mary” and she knew who he was. It is where the miracle happened and goes on happening – in the encounters with the Living Christ.
Encounters with the Divine, encounters with the Risen Christ can happen in very simple and yet very profound ways.
* It can be through the brilliant colors of the sun rising or the sun setting, inviting us to be amazed and awed by God’s creation.
* It can be an unexpected kind word when we are feeling tired and weary and lonely.
* It can be the deep joy and love of a parent or grandparent showing a picture of a new baby.
* It can be sitting with someone who is near death. She smiles, squeezes my hand and softly whispers, “It is so beautiful, I am not afraid.”
* It can be sitting on a rock by Lake Superior, gazing out over the water and thinking “oh my goodness I am a part of this whole, huge creation and I have place in it.”
Encounters with the Divine, encounters with the Risen Christ, they happen in very simple and very profound ways in our lives. We can be changed by them, becoming stronger, wiser, more kind and daring. With new eyes we can come to know God’s promise – that pain, sorrow, suffering or even death will not be the last word.
What Easter does, is to take us by the hand, and lead us to a garden, a tomb, to a deep place right at the center of our soul. What Easter says is, “Clear out that space, open your eyes and ears and heart because I have a new thing to show you, a new life, a new hope. For he is not here, he is Risen and found among you!”
This is our hope; this is God’s promise!
Easter Blessings,
Pastor Cindy