The Mary’s

It warms my heart that Jesus’ first interaction after the Resurrection was with “the Mary’s.” Mary Magdalene and the “other” Mary (makes me smile) were obviously dear to His heart and Jesus knew He could trust them with His epic super shiny and impressive revelation. I’m not sure He was as confident in the guys being able to relay the message as accurately as He’d like. Just sayin’. I love that they were both fearful and overjoyed as I can totally relate to such confusion. Those of us that have lost loved ones know the longing of just wanting to see them one more time or erasing the vision of their lifelessness. Just to see the twinkle in my dad’s eyes again would mean everything and the Mary’s not only got to see Jesus, but it says they wrapped themselves at his feet (reminiscent of anointing His feet with expensive oil?). To see and hear and touch your loved one again!!! How amazing and how terrifying! Let’s just say there must have been some big feelings going on, hence Jesus saying, “Do not be afraid.” The Mary’s must have had a special kind of charisma to be able to go into a room full of grieving, ashamed, proud, and frightened men and tell them that Jesus was going to meet them in Galilee! Their conviction about the matter would mean everything wouldn’t it? How convicted am I about the Resurrection? How convicted am I that we are going to come out of this pandemic in victory? How convicted am I that Jesus is the Savior of the world? What exactly do I need to convict my heart other than the greatest miracle of all time? Do I believe Jesus rose from the dead or not? 

Would Jesus ask me to go tell a room full of wounded and hurt individuals about Him? The first words He said to the Mary’s were, “Do not be afraid.” Perfect love casts out all fear and so this morning I encourage each of us to tap into His perfect love. Yesterday I got to go back to work after almost a month away from my sweethearts. I too was fearful and overjoyed. I missed the sweethearts so much, but I was afraid to bring in anything harmful to them. I recorded a mini-Easter service on my iPad that I took around to the rooms that they could watch individually. I sang a song called “The Blessing” and “Oh Happy Day” and as I stood outside their doors in the hallway, I could hear each one sing along with me as they watched. Some even clapped to “Oh Happy Day.” I was so taken aback because I realized that Jesus did ask me to go tell His vulnerable ones about Him. My fear melted away in the perfect love that was moving through the place and when Bill asked me if he could watch it again, I understood what it means to be overjoyed. Leah told me that it was one of her favorite Easters ever and I think that Jesus is using this time to break into our homes and show us that He is indeed Alive!! How convicted are you about that? Easter and Passover 2020 will go down in the history books as unforgettable as it should always be. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 ACTS 2:14, 22-33

On the day of Pentecost, Peter stood up with the Eleven,
raised his voice, and proclaimed:
“You who are Jews, indeed all of you staying in Jerusalem.
Let this be known to you, and listen to my words.

“You who are children of Israel, hear these words.
Jesus the Nazorean was a man commended to you by God
with mighty deeds, wonders, and signs,
which God worked through him in your midst, as you yourselves know.
This man, delivered up by the set plan and foreknowledge of God,
you killed, using lawless men to crucify him.
But God raised him up, releasing him from the throes of death,
because it was impossible for him to be held by it.
For David says of him:

I saw the Lord ever before me,
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
Therefore my heart has been glad and my tongue has exulted;
my flesh, too, will dwell in hope,
because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your holy one to see corruption.
You have made known to me the paths of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence.

My brothers, one can confidently say to you
about the patriarch David that he died and was buried,
and his tomb is in our midst to this day.
But since he was a prophet and knew that God had sworn an oath to him
that he would set one of his descendants upon his throne,
he foresaw and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ,
that neither was he abandoned to the netherworld
nor did his flesh see corruption.
God raised this Jesus;
of this we are all witnesses.
Exalted at the right hand of God,
he poured forth the promise of the Holy Spirit
that he received from the Father, as you both see and hear.”

Responsorial Psalm 16:1-2A AND 5, 7-8, 9-10, 11

R.    (1)  Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, “My Lord are you.”
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
R.    Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.
R.    Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
Therefore my heart is glad and my soul rejoices,
my body, too, abides in confidence;
Because you will not abandon my soul to the nether world,
nor will you suffer your faithful one to undergo corruption.
R.    Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R.    Alleluia.
You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.
R.    Keep me safe, O God; you are my hope.
or:
R.    Alleluia.

Alleluia PS 118:24

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 28:8-15

Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went away quickly from the tomb,
fearful yet overjoyed,
and ran to announce the news to his disciples.
And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them.
They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage.
Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid.
Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee,
and there they will see me.”

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city
and told the chief priests all that had happened.
The chief priests assembled with the elders and took counsel;
then they gave a large sum of money to the soldiers,
telling them, “You are to say,
‘His disciples came by night and stole him while we were asleep.’
And if this gets to the ears of the governor,
we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.”
The soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed.
And this story has circulated among the Jews to the present day.