“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.” John 20:18 NRSVUE
Several months ago, I participated in a series of meetings where each session began with everyone answering the question, “Where have you seen God?” Each time we gathered, this question was met with silence before the first person was brave enough to share a story of where they had seen God during the past week. The stories that were shared usually included examples of God’s presence in a difficult situation, God leading them to a person who needed a visit,t or seeing God in the most unexpected person or place.
A little over ten days ago, we celebrated Easter. In John 20, Mary Magdalene went to the garden alone, and when she saw that the stone was removed, she went and told two disciples, who then came to the tomb. After they left, Mary stayed and wept by the tomb. Eventually, Mary sees who she thought was a “gardener” in the garden, whom she finally recognizes as Jesus once he calls her by her name. Later, Mary becomes the first disciple to share the good news of Easter with the other disciples by proclaiming, “I have seen the Lord.” Through Mary’s experience in the garden, she was able to move from grief to faith and from mourning to proclamation.
For each of us, when we are facing challenging times, and as we experience moments of weeping, Easter still happens. Through our tears, we can find hope, we can hold on to the joy of finding hope, and we can remember that death is not the end. During the times when you are struggling, may you listen for Jesus to call your name. And when you hear your name, may you proclaim, “I have seen the Lord.”
Being able to joyfully declare “I have seen the Lord” means knowing, believing, trusting, and receiving. When you see pain, violence, suffering, and what would be described as the opposite of what resurrection means, may you proclaim, “I have seen the Lord.”
Even in the days following Easter, we can continue to celebrate that life is stronger than death, love is stronger than fear, and forgiveness is stronger than judgment. For us, Jesus’s resurrection and triumph over death brings forth a new world where absolutely nothing–not even death–can separate us from God’s love.
May you open your eyes to the many ways that God is at work in your life and in the lives of those around you. When you see examples of God at work, may you share those with others and joyfully proclaim, “I have seen the Lord.”
Pastor Chelsea Vaught
Bethesda Mennonite Church – Henderson
