A Bible Reading: John 20:11-16
Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus' body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" "They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don't know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means "Teacher").
A Thought
Mary, weeping at the tomb, is probably one of the most well-known events of the first Easter morning. She is there at dawn to anoint his body and to grieve. And yet she is not alone. First the angels and then Jesus greet her and ask her “Why are you crying?”, and Jesus continues “Who is it that you are looking for?” It is probably stating the obvious, but both the angels and Jesus knew why she was crying and who she was looking for, so why did they ask?
I think the answer to this lies in the importance of bringing our questions, our confusion, our fears and our grief into the light, bringing them to Jesus and stating them simply and plainly to him.
What are your concerns at the moment? What are your fears? What questions do you have? Can you bring them to Jesus now? He may not answer all your questions immediately, but he has heard them and in time it will all become clear. The important thing for now is that he is with you and that he is calling your name. How will you respond?
A Prayer
In the quietness, bring to Jesus now your questions, your fears, your concerns and your grief…
Thank you, Lord Jesus, that in all the confusion and concerns of life, you are here with me in your resurrection power. May the knowledge of your presence transform my day today, tomorrow and always. Amen.