Mark 16:1-8

Crown of Thorns, April 24, Easter, West Pier, Brighton, Great Britain -- Mark Barkaw 2007

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.

And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb.

They had been saying to one another, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?”

When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back.

As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed.

But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him.

But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.”

So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to any one, for they were afraid.

John 20:1-18

--Kari Miller Fenwood

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.”

--Kari Miller Fenwood

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.

1 Corinthians 15:1-11

Painting by Patrick Elwood Kaiser, Early Worship, 1990s

As scissors snip by my ears
gray hairs fall to the floor;
circling me round
like the yellowing leaves
beneath the maple,
or my tears…
Death lurks at every step
and yet I feel the tug of resurrection
as I hope for a grandson’s cure,
for our children’s futures,
and for that Spring when we all shall
sprout and rise and blossom,
into those beings the Creator intended
us to be in the first place.
The story does not end with God’s heart aching
at what has befallen his creation,
hands freshly soiled
from planting his only Seed in the dark tomb,
but with the heavy stone rolled away,
as the risen Lord emerges bringing the light
to tug us toward fullness of life.
Lent is a time to quiet ourselves
and feel that pull.

                           —Martha Kaiser

John 2:18-22

After forcefully chasing the money changers and sellers of sacrificial animals out of the Temple, Jesus was asked by the “Keepers of the Law” by what authority or sign he had done this. Jesus’ answer, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it,” baffled both the Temple authorities and his disciples. After his resurrection, Jesus’ disciples understood these words as referring to the temple of his body. Neither the “Keepers of the Law” nor the disciples recognized these words of Jesus as the beginning of the end of religion as they knew it. Gradually the church realized the Temple, Sabbath keeping, circumcision, and laws about sacrifice were all done away with in Christ. Resurrection changed everything.

Today, we in the Church must keep reexamining old and familiar ways of thinking in the light of new Spirit-led experiences. May we recognize Jesus as the “Temple” where God dwells in the fullness of grace and truth.

                                                                                          —Ann Anderson

Psalm 22:23-26

 From Despair to Praise and Gratitude

Psalm 22 begins with the words “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” These words recur in Mark’s and Matthew’s accounts of the crucifixion of Jesus (Mark 15:34 and Matthew 27:46). Some of those hearing Jesus’ words “My God, My God,” or “Eloi, Eloi” in their original language, thought Jesus was calling upon Elijah. Others more familiar with the Psalms would have recalled the opening words of this psalm, which in verse 18 alludes to evildoers casting lots for the psalmist’s clothing, another parallel to the experience of Jesus.

The psalmist in today’s reading and Jesus by his crucifixion and resurrection together tell us that our laments, our dark nights of the soul—and we all experience these in one way or another—are not the last words. In verses 23-26 the psalmist speaking to a congregation, family, community—and to us—says that God did not forsake him but heard his cry and brought him through the difficult time. He urges them and us to respond in praise, glory, and awe. In gratitude, he pays vows, perhaps alms that help to ensure that the “poor shall eat and be satisfied.”

Prayer: Listening and responsive God, we are grateful that You do not forsake us—as You did not forsake the psalmist or your Son on the cross—and we are grateful that your Holy Spirit is with us to help us through despairing times. Help us to express our gratitude in ways that prevent our neighbors near and far from feeling forsaken.

                                                                                                 —Judy Parr