Scriptural Basis
John 20:11-18 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
Is it any wonder that the first person to see Jesus after he had risen was a woman? Why do you suppose that was the case?
Is it possible that the first person to see Jesus alive was a woman because a woman was not afraid to be at the tomb to serve him while she thought he was dead?
Perhaps Jesus went to a woman weeping so that he could transform her tears of sorrow and confusion into tears of joy and happiness.
All through the Gospels, we see Jesus making friendships with women. Women were among the best friends of Jesus. Wherever he went Jesus spent more time and energy upholding and lifting up the spirits of women. We also see women time and again allowing himself to be corrected by women, such as the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman. (See Matthew 15: 21-28).
How very interesting that we read story after story about Jesus recognizing the goodness and leadership quality of women. Yet, still the Church in the 21st Century still has issues with women being ordained leaders. Even in churches like The Episcopal Church, women can be ordained Bishops, Priests or Deacons. But, it is still really difficult for a woman to become the Rector of some churches. Women can come and help, but they come as assistants. How great it is that our Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is such a wonderful woman and bishop. Some of our greatest Cathedral Deans and best authors are women in the Episcopal Church. As of last year we have one open lesbian Bishop We have made great strides, but have a ways to go.
I read just this morning a great post from Vicki Black in Speaking to the Soul about Tuesday in Holy Week. Here is a quote from that post.
How can this be related to Jesus and his friendship with women as well as all who are still second class in society and the Church?
The resurrection is something we cannot see with our natural human eyes. It is something we must experience in our relationships with ourselves and others. The resurrection cannot be witnessed or experienced if we do not deepen our relationships with those who remain marginalized. The more women are denigrated by laws and rules that are really about power and control than anything else, the more the resurrection is just another fabled story from the age of the Roman Empire.
Yesterday MoveON.org reported that just in the last 4 months there have been 916 bills offered by Republicans against women. The bills are not just limited to to anti-choice bills. In other States around the country there have been bills offered to take away equal pay rights for women. And the statements made against women by Christianist's like Pat Robertson have been degrading and rude.
How do these reflect the resurrection?
I do believe that Jesus's first appearance to women in the Gospels after his resurrection is a reminder that Christ died and rose for all of God's people. It is a message that in God's eyes there are no losers, there are none to be swept aside and forgotten. There are no outcasts in God's reign. There is room for everyone including women, LGBT, immigrants, Native Americans, and so forth to honor and serve God, the Church and society. There are people of all kinds and every where that are weeping wanting to hear their name called to be loved and to serve. Jesus' resurrection and the greeting to Mary Magdelene is a sign that God wants everyone including those who weep from despair, grief, discouragement and discrimination to know that God loves them and wants them to serve and be served as members of God's family.
Prayers
John 20:11-18 (NRSV)
Mary Magdalene 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 around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" 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.
Blog Reflection
Is it any wonder that the first person to see Jesus after he had risen was a woman? Why do you suppose that was the case?
Is it possible that the first person to see Jesus alive was a woman because a woman was not afraid to be at the tomb to serve him while she thought he was dead?
Perhaps Jesus went to a woman weeping so that he could transform her tears of sorrow and confusion into tears of joy and happiness.
All through the Gospels, we see Jesus making friendships with women. Women were among the best friends of Jesus. Wherever he went Jesus spent more time and energy upholding and lifting up the spirits of women. We also see women time and again allowing himself to be corrected by women, such as the story of Jesus and the Canaanite woman. (See Matthew 15: 21-28).
How very interesting that we read story after story about Jesus recognizing the goodness and leadership quality of women. Yet, still the Church in the 21st Century still has issues with women being ordained leaders. Even in churches like The Episcopal Church, women can be ordained Bishops, Priests or Deacons. But, it is still really difficult for a woman to become the Rector of some churches. Women can come and help, but they come as assistants. How great it is that our Presiding Bishop Katharine Jefferts Schori is such a wonderful woman and bishop. Some of our greatest Cathedral Deans and best authors are women in the Episcopal Church. As of last year we have one open lesbian Bishop We have made great strides, but have a ways to go.
I read just this morning a great post from Vicki Black in Speaking to the Soul about Tuesday in Holy Week. Here is a quote from that post.
The Resurrection of Christ could not be seen by man, for it was a resurrection into a world which no human senses could follow it. There are many powers in nature to which we can have no immediate outer testimony. We know their existence by their results. So it is with the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. We experience its power because He went into a world beyond our natural gaze.
How can this be related to Jesus and his friendship with women as well as all who are still second class in society and the Church?
The resurrection is something we cannot see with our natural human eyes. It is something we must experience in our relationships with ourselves and others. The resurrection cannot be witnessed or experienced if we do not deepen our relationships with those who remain marginalized. The more women are denigrated by laws and rules that are really about power and control than anything else, the more the resurrection is just another fabled story from the age of the Roman Empire.
Yesterday MoveON.org reported that just in the last 4 months there have been 916 bills offered by Republicans against women. The bills are not just limited to to anti-choice bills. In other States around the country there have been bills offered to take away equal pay rights for women. And the statements made against women by Christianist's like Pat Robertson have been degrading and rude.
How do these reflect the resurrection?
I do believe that Jesus's first appearance to women in the Gospels after his resurrection is a reminder that Christ died and rose for all of God's people. It is a message that in God's eyes there are no losers, there are none to be swept aside and forgotten. There are no outcasts in God's reign. There is room for everyone including women, LGBT, immigrants, Native Americans, and so forth to honor and serve God, the Church and society. There are people of all kinds and every where that are weeping wanting to hear their name called to be loved and to serve. Jesus' resurrection and the greeting to Mary Magdelene is a sign that God wants everyone including those who weep from despair, grief, discouragement and discrimination to know that God loves them and wants them to serve and be served as members of God's family.
Prayers
O God, who by the glorious resurrection of your Son Jesus Christ destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light: Grant that we, who have been raised with him, may abide in his presence and rejoice in the hope of eternal glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be dominion and praise for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Tuesday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, page 222).
Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you;
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride,
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgement.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds,
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new lilfe;
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us;
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness,
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.
(Song of Christ's Goodness, by Anselm of Canterbury, Enriching Our Worship 1, page 39).
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