Weekly Liturgy : March 30-April 5
- John
- Mar 30
- 4 min read
John 20:1-18
NRSV Translation
1-2 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."
3-10 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's 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.
11-13 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."
14-15 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."
16 Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher).
17 Jesus said to her, "Do not touch 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.'"
18 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.
REFLECTION
from John
It is Easter! Glory. Death is defeated.
And if the Son sets us free, we are free indeed.
Free to drop all to which we cling to comfort us, insulate us, and postpone the reality of death.
Free to drop our hatred and our judgements, so that we have time to love and serve… even those we love to hate.
Free to drop our weapons, because what good is violence anymore?
Free to give our resources away, so others may live.
Free to be uncomfortable and inconvenienced, so someone else might get to believe they aren’t alone in this world.
Free to storm the gates of hell, wherever on earth they may be found, and set the captives free.
PRACTICE:
Outward Mindset Application
Before a meeting this week, spend some time reflecting on the relationships you have with the others who will be at the table, and the needs you hear them name often.
For example, if you know one of your teammates thrives when there is clarity and context for a task or decision, rather than when the task simply gets done quickly, try to adjust the meeting’s agenda to serve you teammate accordingly.
Non-Violent Communication Question of the Week
This week, practice saying “no,” honestly and kindly. When you need to respond to another person’s request with “no,” add context or rationale, as well as a feeling you are experiencing in the moment. This way, the person hearing the “no,” might receive it as information, rather than rejection.
Pathway Toward Center
TAsceticism (making space for God by abstaining from comforts):
This is the final week of lent. Did you give up anything for the season? If so, spend this week reflecting on the experience and any insights about God you have received.
“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.
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