April
8, 2012
Easter
2012
John
20:1-18 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.”
Then
Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.
The
two were running together,
but
the other disciple outran Peter
and
reached the tomb first.
He
bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there,
but
he did not go in.
Then
Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb.
He
saw the linen wrappings lying there,
and
the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head,
not
lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.
Then
the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in,
and
he saw and believed;
for
as yet they did not understand the scripture,
that
he must rise from the dead.
Then
the disciples returned to their homes.
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 round and saw Jesus standing there,
but
she did not know that it was Jesus.
Jesus
said to her,
“Woman,
why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?”
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.
***
Rabbouni, Teacher, Lord Jesus, ~
Make us like Mary.
Let neither night,
nor darkness keep us
from honoring you.
On the first day of the week,
while it is still dark,
let us come to your tomb,
lead us to your sanctuary on this Easter morning.
Transform us from a people in the dark.
When we find the stone removed,
let us run,
to your disciples,
to the ones you love,
to the streets outside,
and the people inside still.
Let us bring them back,
to help us find your answer,
the answer told between stained glass walls,
and wooden pews,
the answer told between font, and table,
between pulpit, and congregation.
Let us come in search of your answer.
And after is all done,
and the world outside still does not make sense;
when we find those still hungry,
and still at war,
when we find those still angry,
and still hurting
on this your risen day;
when we are not surrounded by our loves ones –
when we are pain only you know,
let us be like Mary.
Let us stand sentinel at your tomb,
refusing to leave when others have already gone.
Let us wait and offer you our tears,
Let us wait and give our grief over to you.
Let us know nothing else
besides the wait for your answer.
Let Lent be our life,
until we can tell your Easter story,
until we can live in your light as an Easter people.
Let us look into your tomb,
let us look to the grief and pain you endured,
let us remember we are not alone in our pain and grief,
let us look into your tomb.
Let us peek back though the doors of your sanctuary,
and like Mary,
find angels where their once was brokenness.
Let us see the angel at the place where you feet had
laid,
Let us see the angel in the steps of those who walk
toward justice,
in those who shelter the poor and feed the hungry,
Let us see the angel who sits where your head once
rested,
Let us see the angel in the simple welcome of strangers,
in the peacefulness of elders,
in the quiet of an early morning.
To those angels,
let us lament like Mary,
"They
have taken away my Lord,
and I
do not know where they have laid him."
Let us know cry out,
let us know it is natural to misunderstand,
let us know you understand.
You understand our grieving pain and sorrow,
You understand what it is to be forsaken by the Lord we
love,
you understand that forsaken is not the end of the story.
Help us to understand.
When we have cried out,
come to us,
like you came to Mary.
Ask us questions
not for your own answer
but to help us find your answer.
"Woman,
why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"
And when we are stuck in grief
and cannot solve your riddle,
ask us again.
"Woman,
why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?"
And when we mistake you for the gardener,
call out our name,
call out our name.
In your familiar voice tell us
we are known by you,
and we are known deeply,
that you care deeply,
that you have not forsaken us.
Lord help us to hear you calling out our name.
Lord help us to hear you calling out our name,
in this sanctuary, in this city, in this world,
in our daily lives,
in the times when we are alone,
and in the times we are surrounded in chaos,
Lord help us hear you calling out our very own name.
And let us turn to you,
Let us know our only response to that call
is to turn around and turn to you,
to serve you, to honor you, to live for you,
and as you would have us live.
Let us respond to you calling our name
by imbuing us to call yours,
“Rabbouni,
Teacher, Lord Jesus!”
“Rabbouni,
Teacher, Lord Jesus!”
Let us remember what you have taught us.
Let us remember that we are yours.
Let us remember that you are Lord.
Let us listen still to your message.
Let us not hold on to you for ourselves,
for you came to this world for us all,
and for your Father, and our Father
for your God and our God,
You came to be one with us,
in all ways,
and you ascended to be with us
always.
Like Mary let us go to your loved ones,
and tell them the good news,
“We
have seen the Lord!”
“We
have seen the Lord!”
“We
have seen the Lord!”
