Every Easter our Revised Common Lectionary
gives us the choice of reading the Resurrection story from the appointed
synoptic gospel or from the gospel of John. I have to confess to a certain sentimental
bias for John’s account (John 20:1-18). There’s something about seeing dear
Mary Magdalene mourning outside the tomb that really touches me. This year I think
we can all relate to her. Her beloved rabbi has died and she’s had to put her mourning
ritual on hold because of the Sabbath and Passover laws. I wonder how many
people have been in her shoes lately because of the covid-19 outbreak? There are
many who have lost loved one but have had to postpone memorial services because of social distancing requirements. All of us, I think, have been in a
state of limbo, wanting to be with loved ones on this Easter, but trapped in
this weird moment of uncertainty. I guess we're all in the same fix as Mary.
Every time I read this passage I’m touched
by Mary’s grief and her devotion to Jesus. She tells the man she thinks is the
caretaker that she will carry the body of Jesus away if he’ll only tell her
where he’s put it. Now, can you imagine yourself carrying the body of a
deceased loved one?
What really strikes me, though, is Jesus’
words in verse 17: “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to
the Father.” You just know from reading
this that Mary must’ve lunged for the Lord as soon as she recognized him—just as we’ll
all lunge for our loved ones as soon as this quarantine is lifted. John doesn’t
have to tell us that Mary is just bizzaco with joy. We feel her Easter rapture
coming off the page.
But Jesus’ words may seem a little odd. I
mean, he doesn’t have to observe social distance, so why is he telling Mary not
to hug him? I have a theory: It’s because in walking with us and suffering
every temptation and every pain and sorrow we’ll ever experience, then in
rising from the dead and promising us everlasting life, Jesus has done his job. It’s not enough to hang on
to the memory of the earthly Jesus. Instead, it’s time to embrace the Jesus who
sits at the right hand of the Father, the Jesus who comes to abide with us
through the Holy Spirit. It’s time for Mary and the others to stop being
disciples—students and followers of Jesus—and time for them to become apostles—ambassadors for Jesus.
Our Easter message is always the reminder
that the job has been completed. As Saint Paul told the Romans:
For I am convinced that neither death nor
life, nor angles nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else n all creation will be able to separate
us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:38-39)
Isn’t that great? The victory is won. We
don’t have to prove anything anymore. We are living as heirs to eternity. Everything
we do, every prayer we pray, every relationship we enjoy, every cause we take
up, we can now do as our joyful response to being promised eternal life through
Jesus. We don’t need to hold on to worldly things when we trust in heavenly
things. As C.S. Lewis put it, “Aim at heaven and you’ll get earth thrown in.”
What we are enduring now is just a moment
in eternity, and anything is bearable
when you know it is only temporary. Today we may be waiting as Mary waited, but
there is so much joy waiting for us up ahead. So stay strong, and say with the
Christians of all the ages the ancient celebratory cry: “Christ is risen! He is
risen, indeed! Alleluia!”
PS
If you'd like to hear a short video message, click here: Easter.
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