“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.” (John 20:1)
In John’s telling, the mystery of Easter began in the early morning darkness of the garden, where Jesus encounters the grieving Magdalene. The story then goes directly to the evening of the day, inside of a locked and shuttered house — the disciples cowering in fear — when Jesus emerged from the shadow.
Jesus stepped forward into doubt and fear in both places. He became present in both scenes.
John doesn’t account for the in-between of the day. Only the edges. Where it seems Christ is ever to be found. So leave the light of hope on. The Lord is near.
On Edge
Easter in the time of COVID-19 has been and is a peculiar event. I wonder what Jesus says to us this day. Grieving, or isolated, or confused, or afraid. In a lonely place, or huddled together. Unsure of the future. On edge. Yet Christ comes to the edges, sometimes unrecognized.
PEACE
(John 20)
The question twice
Why are you weeping
The blessing twice
Peace be with you
The question twice
Why are you weeping
The blessing twice
Peace be with you
The question to us
Why are you weeping
The blessing to us
Peace be with you.
— Susan Palo Cherwien
Prayer
“The peace of Christ be with you.”
Risen Lord, bring your light and calm our anxious hearts to recognize your presence with us in all of our experiences of uncertainty. Restore our sense of belonging in you and togetherness with one another even if we are physically distant. Amen.
