Acts 10:34-43 (NRSV)
Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."
Psalm 1181-2, 14-24 (BCP., p.760).
Colossians 3:1-4 (NRSV)
If you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth, for you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life is revealed, then you also will be revealed with him in glory.
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 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
If you have never had the opportunity to attend the ceremony of a Benedictine making her/his Solemn Vows you are truly missing something wonderful. If you get an invitation to attend, you should definitely accept.
One of the parts of the Rite, involves the one making Solemn Vows to prostrate on the floor and then be covered with a pall. While covered with the pall, the Cantor and the Community chant the Litany of the Saints. The pall is then removed, the Sister or Brother stands up and makes her/his Solemn Profession with the Vows of Stability, Conversion of Life and Obedience. The Vows are for life. There is no turning back. The experience of the pall, symbolizes dying to our old selves and rising a new person. It is a symbol of what takes place in our Baptism. Up to the point that Solemn Vows are taken, the Sister or Brother has undergone a grueling formation process. Surrendering herself/himself to praying the Offices, the daily prayerful reading of Scripture and learning The Rule of St. Benedict along with obedience to one's superior. One would think that doing such would make one imprisoned. After all, the idea of surrendering ourselves to the "judgment and commandments of another" (See RB 1980, Chapter 5:12) is not looked upon very well in this day and age. However, the exact opposite is what happens. When we learn to surrender ourselves to the will of God through obedience to our Superior, we find the greatest freedom, and our greatest reward is learning to trust more and more in God for all that we need.
On this Easter Day, as we arrive with Mary at the tomb and discover that Jesus is not there, we too might become absorbed in the experience of questioning our faith. How can all that we hoped for, suddenly be taken away by the Crucifixion of Jesus on Good Friday, be laid in the tomb on Holy Saturday, only to find ourselves at an empty tomb? Where is Jesus? Where have they laid Him?
Thomas Keating in his book The Mystery of Christ: The Liturgy as Spiritual Experience on pages 70-73 gives us a lot to ponder about the event of Mary Magdalene and her encounter with Jesus. The seen of the garden for example, is a "cosmic context." The two gardens of Eden and where the Resurrection took place as "juxtaposed."
"in the first, the human family, in the persons of Adam and Eve, lost God's intimacy and friendship; in the second, Mary Magdalene (out of whom Jesus had cast seven devils) appears as the first recipient of the good news that intimacy and union with God are once again available."
"Jesus is the gardener of the New Creation."
At one point in our Gospel narrative the story suddenly changes when Jesus calls her by name. Keating writes:
"Jesus spoke her name, "Mary!" Only he could say her name in that way. Instantly, with the whole of her being, she recognized him and in that moment knew that he had risen from the dead.
In the Scriptures, to be called by name has special significance. To call someone or something by name is to identify who or what it is."
"By calling her by name, Jesus manifests his knowledge of everything in her life and his total acceptance of all that she is. This is the moment in which Mary realizes that Jesus loved her. This is the first step in her transformation.
In the Christian scheme of things, the movement from the human condition to divine transformation requires the mediation of a personal relationship with God. The personal love of Jesus facilitates the growth of this relationship. The experience of being loved by him draws the Christian out of all selfishness into deeper levels of self-surrender. How could this movement occur without the conviction of being personally loved by him? The simple utterance of one word, "Mary!" brought to focus all her longings. Her response was to throw herself into the arms of Jesus as she cried out in her joy, "Master!"
In these moments, through the Resurrection of Jesus, Mary was resurrectable. Her moment of vulnerability enabled her to hear the voice of the Risen Christ calling her by name. Mary's response was to recognize in the Risen Jesus, her Master. The one who accepted her as she was, and loved her without condition or distinction.
Are we resurrectable?
On the Easter Day, we are met with God's extravagant love that is inclusive and unconditional. Jesus calls us by our name in the midst of our doubts, fears and chaos. He offers us the opportunity to know that God has forgiven us and redeemed us through the Blood of Jesus Christ. We can feast with joy and wonder that God ushered in the New Creation through the Paschal Mystery.
In the Invitatory Psalm for Morning Prayer this week, we pray with one voice: Alleluia, Christ our Passover has been sacrificed for us; therefore let us keep the feast, not with the old leaven, the leaven of malice and evil, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. Alleluia. (See The Book of Common Prayer, p.83)
Are we resurrectable?
Are we ready to set aside all of our prejudices, and live into our Baptismal Vows? To strive for peace and justice for all people, and to respect the dignity of every human person, with God's help?
Are we resurrectable?
Are we ready to end the sexism that continues to suggest that women are not equal to men, and continue the assault on them in terms of equal work compensation, reproductive health and respect?
Are we ready to reduce the gun violence that is killing innocent women, men and children in our schools and local communities?
Are we interested in calling out the wealthy and powerful who fight the efforts of addressing climate change, to stop polluting our oceans, rivers and end the fracking that is destroying many of our most precious animal sanctuaries?
Are we ready to call out the countries of Uganda, Russia, Nigeria and others about their laws that have further criminalized LGBTQ people in their countries?
Are we ready to say no to the violence between Russia and the Ukraine?
Are we serious about no longer ignoring the pain and the anguish of those who live in poverty, without unemployment benefits, food stamps and the right to vote?
Are we ready to work so that all Christians will end the spiritual and pastoral violence of LGBT people in the Church and society?
Can we please end the violence towards Jews, Muslims and other religions and/or those who practice no religion at all?
The Resurrected Christ saw the pain that was in Mary on that first Easter Day, called her by name, loved her and brought new life to hers. Mary knew that there was no longer a barrier between God and her, because of Jesus' love for her.
If Christians are to be resurrectable on this Easter Day, then we must allow Jesus to come to us, call us by name and meet us in the midst of our pain, disbelief and disarray. As we recognize that Jesus loves us as we are; we must also turn to our neighbor and with that same love, love them as God in Christ has loved us. Only then, will our Alleluia's really be moments of true joy. Because we will know in our hearts that the barriers of injustice, oppression and violence that divide us become that which unites us to the Risen Christ and one another.
Are we resurrectable?
Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus
Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of
everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the
day of the Lord's resurrection, may be raised from the death
of sin by your life-giving Spirit; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one
God, now and for ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.222).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p.815).
O God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior,
the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the
great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away
all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us
from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body
and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith,
one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all
of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth
and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and
one mouth glorify thee; through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, p. 818).
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