I Have Seen the Lord!

John 20:11-18     Holy Bible - English Standard Version

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb.  And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one 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."  


Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom are you seeking?"  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 Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher).  Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me, for 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..." 

Happy Easter!

It's Not About Bunnies!

I don't have anything against bunnies, really I don't.  They are all cute and furry.  It's just that Easter is the celebration of the most wonderful event of all history and bunnies really didn't even get a mention. 

So, let's stay focused.  Pet a bunny, hide Easter eggs if you like, but attend your church today and really think about what the Resurrection Story means for us.  It means we don't have to hang onto our fears.  We can let go of the things from our past that bring us shame.  We are fresh and clean, thanks to Jesus!

Today my husband will greet the congregation with, "He is risen!"  And we will respond with jubilation and joy,

 "He is risen indeed!" 

Lent

We are firmly into the church season of Lent now.  I didn't grow up with that tradition but I've come to really appreciate it.  It takes some getting used to, though, as it is rather a somber time.

We don't usually give gifts for Lent.  We don't even have jolly songs for Lent.  In fact, most are probably written in the minor keys.  They aren't likely to be heard overhead at the mall.  Unlike the Christmas Season, there aren't any great Lent candies or cookies.  In fact, many give such things up altogether during Lent.  Why?

I've come to think of Lent as a time we ponder what Jesus had to go through to get to the point of resurrection.  Easter is so glorious but it did not happen, could not  have happened, without Jesus first going through pain, humiliation, rejection and finally a horrible and public death.  We have to face the dismal truth that we were responsible for that!  This is the only way we can then experience the great relief of forgiveness for our sins- Jesus' gift to us!