Easter Day
Devotional
Water From the Well
Lectionary Devotional For Cycle A
Object:
... she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know it was Jesus.
-- John 20:14
The resurrection is a confusing story and apparently was equally confusing for those who were present at the time. Mary Magdalene, whose very life had been transformed by Jesus, came to the tomb early in the morning. Despite what Jesus may have said about the future resurrection, it is clear that Mary had come to see the dead. She believed that death was final. When she saw the empty tomb, she assumed that someone had stolen the body. What other explanation could there be? She reported this bad news to two of Jesus' closest disciples, and they ran to the tomb. They also saw the empty tomb, but the story continues to be confusing. "Then the other disciple ... also went in and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead." So what was it that the disciple believed? Their belief, apparently, was weakened by misunderstanding. What was their response to this earth-shattering event? "Then the disciples returned to their homes." It was Mary who stayed around. Seeing is not believing, because we often interpret what we see by what we already believe. Because Mary believed that death was final, she did not recognize Jesus when she saw him. Even being addressed by two angels did not change for her the cold reality of death. It was only when Jesus addressed her personally that the prison of her mind was opened to believe that Christ had been raised from the dead. When she believed, she was able to see. Despite her confusion, she did not leave, and, in her staying, she became the first evangelist. Sometimes, in our confusion, we have to continue to stick around until we can be addressed in a way that alters our beliefs so that we can see with new eyes.
-- John 20:14
The resurrection is a confusing story and apparently was equally confusing for those who were present at the time. Mary Magdalene, whose very life had been transformed by Jesus, came to the tomb early in the morning. Despite what Jesus may have said about the future resurrection, it is clear that Mary had come to see the dead. She believed that death was final. When she saw the empty tomb, she assumed that someone had stolen the body. What other explanation could there be? She reported this bad news to two of Jesus' closest disciples, and they ran to the tomb. They also saw the empty tomb, but the story continues to be confusing. "Then the other disciple ... also went in and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead." So what was it that the disciple believed? Their belief, apparently, was weakened by misunderstanding. What was their response to this earth-shattering event? "Then the disciples returned to their homes." It was Mary who stayed around. Seeing is not believing, because we often interpret what we see by what we already believe. Because Mary believed that death was final, she did not recognize Jesus when she saw him. Even being addressed by two angels did not change for her the cold reality of death. It was only when Jesus addressed her personally that the prison of her mind was opened to believe that Christ had been raised from the dead. When she believed, she was able to see. Despite her confusion, she did not leave, and, in her staying, she became the first evangelist. Sometimes, in our confusion, we have to continue to stick around until we can be addressed in a way that alters our beliefs so that we can see with new eyes.
