Sign up to save your podcasts
Or
Share Reflections
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Share to email
Share to Facebook
Share to X
Or
Reflections
Today's Reading: John 20:1-2, 10-18
Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 5:1-6:3, 10-16; Acts 18:1-11, 23-28
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Happy Easter! This really doesn't say everything we need to say, does it? Easter conjures up images of rabbits delivering eggs to children who then have to search and retrieve them. While these can certainly be Christian images, they don't quite capture the joy that Mary has. Happy Easter? How about this: "I have seen the Lord!" Try it out! Say it out loud!
No one believed her, and who could blame them? Men don't rise from the dead, especially not after dying like Jesus died. Crucifixion leaves no doubt about a man's fate. There's no recovery after being nailed to a cross and left to die. She'd been there when Jesus was taken down and carefully laid in His borrowed tomb. There's a reason He didn't buy one for Himself though: He wasn't going to use it for very long.
Imagine the tomb salesman, perplexed that Jesus said He would simply borrow one because He'd only need it for three days. Jesus' resurrection doesn't really make sense to anyone. It runs against everything we know about how the world works, because we live in a world that is fueled by death. We keep enough weapons around to make sure no one tries anything. We keep peace with the threat of death. Jesus does the exact opposite. He gives peace by defeating death! It is hard to believe, isn't it?
Thank God for Mary Magdalene, who first ran shouting, "I have seen the Lord!" And then the disciples, too, who came to believe and proclaim as well, "I have seen the Lord!" We, then, stand at the end of a long line of those who continue to exclaim, "I have seen the Lord!" Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, restored Mary Magdalene to health and called her to be the first witness of His resurrection. Heal us from all our infirmities, and call us to know You in the power of Your Son's unending life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for St. Mary Magdalene)
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero
View all episodes
By Higher Things®Today's Reading: John 20:1-2, 10-18
Daily Lectionary: 1 Samuel 5:1-6:3, 10-16; Acts 18:1-11, 23-28
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord!" (John 20:18)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. Happy Easter! This really doesn't say everything we need to say, does it? Easter conjures up images of rabbits delivering eggs to children who then have to search and retrieve them. While these can certainly be Christian images, they don't quite capture the joy that Mary has. Happy Easter? How about this: "I have seen the Lord!" Try it out! Say it out loud!
No one believed her, and who could blame them? Men don't rise from the dead, especially not after dying like Jesus died. Crucifixion leaves no doubt about a man's fate. There's no recovery after being nailed to a cross and left to die. She'd been there when Jesus was taken down and carefully laid in His borrowed tomb. There's a reason He didn't buy one for Himself though: He wasn't going to use it for very long.
Imagine the tomb salesman, perplexed that Jesus said He would simply borrow one because He'd only need it for three days. Jesus' resurrection doesn't really make sense to anyone. It runs against everything we know about how the world works, because we live in a world that is fueled by death. We keep enough weapons around to make sure no one tries anything. We keep peace with the threat of death. Jesus does the exact opposite. He gives peace by defeating death! It is hard to believe, isn't it?
Thank God for Mary Magdalene, who first ran shouting, "I have seen the Lord!" And then the disciples, too, who came to believe and proclaim as well, "I have seen the Lord!" We, then, stand at the end of a long line of those who continue to exclaim, "I have seen the Lord!" Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia! In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
Almighty God, Your Son, Jesus Christ, restored Mary Magdalene to health and called her to be the first witness of His resurrection. Heal us from all our infirmities, and call us to know You in the power of Your Son's unending life; through the same Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for St. Mary Magdalene)
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor René Castillero