John 20:1-18
1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, gasping for breath. “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”
3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.
11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”
13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.
15 Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”
She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Sir, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”
16 Jesus said, “Mary.”
Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”
17 Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”
18 Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.
REFLECTIONS:
Thoughts from John, Pastor of Community Development:
It’s Easter.
The day that is changing everything.
Jesus is murdered.
Three days later, he’s alive again.
The space-time continuum is ripped open.
The Eternal and the Now become one.
All Pain. All Sorrow. All War. All Suffering. All Destruction. All Death.
Placed within All Things New, rendered
Useless. Impotent.
The innocent victim faces his murderers.
But there’s no revenge here.
Only comfort.
Only embrace.
It’s time for breakfast with his friends.
May it be so with us.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Are you experiencing tension in a relationship right now? Consider what the other person may be waiting on you to do to help kick-start the repair. Then do that thing.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week:
What is a behavior of someone else that you really wish would change? How can you encourage that behavior change through the shape of a request, rather than a demand?
Pathways toward Centeredness
Enthusiasm (Loving God through celebration and praise):
What is so obviously good in your world right now? Say a prayer of thanksgiving for that goodness! Or find a friend to share a moment of celebration together!
Questions for Reflection
Is there anywhere you are seeking newness and life?
How can you help others experience newness and life?
What allows you to hang on to hope for a better (and healed) world?
“Liturgy” refers to the habits and practices humans use to form community around shared values and meaning. At Church at the Park, we desire to be a community of practice, becoming people who see the world through the eyes of the marginalized, making meaning through the lens of pain and suffering, and committing ourselves to non-violence in a wounded world. This weekly email is intended to provide pathways of practice for becoming the type of people who embody these values.
Many of our reflections on each week's text come from other sources. If you're interested in reading more of what inspires us, here our our two favorite reflections.
Copyright (C) 2023 Church at the Park. All rights reserved.