Listening recommendation: What Is Life? by George Harrison

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew’s Gospel has Mary Magdalene and the ‘other Mary’ going to the tomb. The Gospel of Mark features three women, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary, the mother of James (not James the Less) going to the tomb on that fearful Sunday morning. Luke 24:10 says “It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles.” That adds up to a minimum of four women. And in John, Mary Magdalene goes alone to the tomb. The Gospel of the Dozen has Mary Magdalene alone going to the tomb.

 

Mary Magdalene, carrying her heavy load of spices and ointments, approached the tomb where her Master had been laid after he had died. Now, the first morning after the Sabbath, she was surprised to hear the familiar barking of a dog and she saw a man outside the tomb playing with Smokey. And when she looked she saw him, familiar, yet unexpected and frightening. Then she saw with the eyes of faith, and seeing, her heart was opened. It was her Jesus, raised from the dead by the power of the right hand of the Almighty. Seeing through the light of faith, his words brought forth understanding and life in her soul, as a flower blooms and turns toward the sun.

 

Overcome, she fell to her knees and slowly put her head to the ground for she understood the power of his word. Jesus approached her and stood before her and said, “Mary?”

 

She raised her head a little and beheld the precious feet of her Lord. Surely those were wound marks, but they were healed, but still fresh, as if about to bleed. Jesus had bent down slightly and touched the shoulder of his Mary and bade her rise. She flew up into his arms but could not look into his face. She hugged him fiercely, clutching him as if forever.

 

Jesus put his hands on her arms and gently eased her back from him. She averted her eyes and saw the wounds in his hands and tears quickly formed and spilled on his hand and she pressed his hand to her lips. She gasped for breath, “I’m sorry. I couldn’t believe.” She began to weep into his chest and he held her tightly to himself. After a time her weeping began to subside and he again pushed her slightly back and gently caressed her cheek. He lifted her face to look into his and their eyes met. With their souls thus open to each other, he comforted her and said, “Now you can believe for I was dead, but now I am alive. Doubt no more, my dearest Mary.” 

 

The light around them began burning more brightly, more brightly than she had ever seen, so brightly that all else was lost to view. His face glimmered with uncanny brilliance yet did not blind. She, too, assumed a changed aspect in the reflected light and their souls mingled freely, twining and re-twining. He began slowly to move her into a dance as a celestial, mystical music began to slowly sound. 

 

On the smooth rocks before the empty tomb, the two souls became one bedecked in the beauty of the creation, in the bond of communion, and in the light of freedom. The music swelled, raised in volume, raising the spirits of the two souls. The dance quickened as he took her hand in his and their commingling spirits soared and the pace of the music and the pace of their dance gradually increased.

 

Spinning and twirling, dancing and whirling, Jesus and Mary in the ecstasy of renewed life, danced in love, danced as their ancestor David had danced, and danced as all who in joy dance, for their delight is found in the Lord.

 

And now their dance slowed gradually as the light began to fade to normal and the colors and shapes returned to their surroundings. “Mary, you must go and tell the others,” said Jesus.

 

“But, my Lord, they won’t believe. I will tell them, of course, but they won’t believe me, for I am only a woman,” said Mary lowering her head.

 

“’Only a woman’?!” Jesus chided gently. “Mary, you shall be my Apostle to the Apostles. Go and tell them what has taken place to glorify God.. That is your task. Believing is their task.”

 

“Yes, my Lord, I will do as you say,” said Mary and a look of confidence crossed her face and now she ardently adored the Risen Christ, noting each detail of his face, his hands and his feet, as if eating and drinking very greedily. Slowly and gently, Jesus took his leave of her as a physical being but at the same time she felt her heart swell, filling up with the Holy Presence of his Love. Her understanding of his words was now complete and she turned toward Jerusalem to find and inform the Disciples. She forgot completely about the expensive ointments and spices. And Smokey, ever discreet, bounded forward to join Mary on her way into the city. They were barely aware that their feet were touching the ground. Their light feet were as winged as they flew along their way.

 

 

And in the highest of the heavens, just below the Merciful Throne of Grace sits the Throne of Justice, and Jesus prays that God the Almighty tarry on his way to that lower throne and delay the Day of Judgment, for in that way, more may learn of the goodness of God and be claimed by the Risen Christ to people his Holy and Eternal Kingdom. And all the people say amen.