Sr L Cunningham – April 2022

There were also other women that went to the grave with Mary Magdalene, but the names of the women do not appear in the gospel of John.
The wheel shaped stone in front of the grave was still intact. Jesus was able to leave the grave even though the stone was in front of the grave. The stone was rolled away, from the entrance, for people to be able to enter and see for themselves that Jesus has risen from the grave.  If a person hears the story of Jesus that has risen from the grave, it might take a while before you really understand. It is possible that a person, like Mary and the disciples, went through four stages:

1. They initially thought that it was impossible or a fabrication.
2. Peter went to make sure of the facts and still found it difficult to believe.
3. A person could only believe the reality that Jesus has risen if they met Jesus in person, like the disciples.
4. If the disciples and Mary Magdalene have not seen for themselves, it is a reality that Jesus has risen from the grave.

Peter and John were very shocked to see that Jesus is no longer in the grave. This also proved that Jesus has really risen from the grave. When John saw the linen that Jesus was wrapped in, as well as the linen that was wrapped over his head, rolled up on the one side, he really believed that Jesus had risen. Only after they had seen the empty grave, they understood the scripture and what Jesus said, that he will die, and he must rise from death. Their unbelief was overcome through this everlasting miracle. John 20 v 9 – The death of Jesus is the basis of our Christian faith. This is the proof that everything he said came to reality and that he is no false prophet, but he is the Son of God. 

The fact that he has risen is the final revelation to overcome death. Jesus’ resurrection is the witness of the church to the world. 20 v 14 – Mary did not recognize Jesus immediately. Perhaps because of her heartache and overwhelming emotions, she did not recognize him. She did not recognize, neither expected to see him. When he called her name, she immediately recognized him. We can only imagine the gratefulness and love she had when Jesus called her name.

The essence of the question is personal when he asked her: “Who are you looking for?” Mary later went and told the disciples that she had seen Jesus.
The parable is about Jesus who has risen and whose spirit lives within us, His children. When the Lord is central in our lives, only then we will see life through different perspectives. I find it remarkably interesting that not one of the twelve disciples of JESUS were women. Jesus had many female followers. It is obvious that he did not treat women according to the general way of those times but as people with their own right and with full opportunity to play their role as equal people of God.

Mary was a dynamic woman who cared for people. She did not only travel with Jesus but also contributed by caring for the people in the group.  She was also the first person to whom he appeared after he had risen. It is amazing, that the first-person Jesus appeared to after he has risen was a woman. “A WOMAN”! Mary is an outstanding example who has lived a life worthy to be a follower of Christ. Jesus healed her from the seven evil spirits that took control of her life. Every time when she saw him, she thankfully showed her gratitude for healing her. 

She lived and stayed close to the Lord.  Mary’s faith was uncomplicated, simple, and genuine. To have faith and discipline was important to understand what happened on Easter Sunday morning. Jesus honoured her faith when he appeared to her as the first person to see him after he had risen.  As Christians, our faith was challenged, when the Coronavirus struck the world, adjustments had to be made immediately. The war between Russia and Ukraine calls us to intense prayer, spiritual commitment, and Faith in the Lord all mighty, who has control over everything because everything belongs to Him.  People lost family, friends, loved ones and jobs. Poverty increased, gender based violence escalated, social and economic difficulties were at the order of the day. 

People are still suffering mentally. Things have changed and will never be the same. The poorest became poorer, the rich became selfish and the strongest survived. The example that Mary left us, is to stay close to the Lord. No social or economic well-being can replace that. We are called to encounter all these challenges at a time like this. The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic is still very visible and present. We many times make our own lives extremely complicated by not living according to God’s requirements and wishes. We need to make smart choices. If we are not aware we cannot care.  Our minds need to change first to be able to have God’s mind. The Lord can also free us from all that affects our lives negatively. 

The simple lifestyle of Mary is set out in the Holy Bible, for His children as life lessons. It is up to us to change and turn to God as the Sunflower turns to the sun to bloom at its best. Mary was the chosen one to be first witness that He has risen, first to whom the message that He was risen was transferred.  She was the one who went to tell His disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what He had told her.  During the time of Lent, we are reminded of the painful experience Jesus went through to save the world, the EMPTY GRAVE and the appearance to Mary Magdalene and the message that she had to give to the disciples: “Go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to Him who is my Father and their Father, my God, and their God”.  All was brought to conclusion through John 20 v 18 – On Sunday morning Jesus showed his scars to His disciples to convince them that the risen God is the same Jesus that was crucified. They understood the new identity. Here, Jesus identified himself once again as the Father.  He first told the disciples who sent Him and thereafter asked them to continue spreading the redemption message through the universe.

May God accompany us as we celebrate Easter 2022!

AMEN

Sr L Cunningham