There is something to be said for the early hours of the morning. The sun is just below the horizon and light is beginning to chase away the dark. The noises of humans – cars, delivery trucks, televisions – have not yet permeated the air, so the calls of birds can be heard, from the little chickadee to the raucous blue jay. It is the time of day to be open to possibilities and receptive to God.
This was the time of day when Mary Magdalene went to the tomb to be near Jesus. He was dead, yes, but to be at the place where his body was laid was to be as close to him as she could, or so she thought. We do the same, don’t we? We visit the gravesite or columbarium of a loved one and we plan to just sit for awhile, to listen to the birds, to notice what little flowers are growing around the marker, to simply be in the presence once again of one who is now gone. It is a place and time that is open for remembering, and it becomes a place for more than that, a place that is open to possibilities. Mary arrived at the tomb and found it open. Her first reaction was to run and get the men. She broke the spell of the morning and ran from the possibilities found in the quiet. Peter and John arrived, discovered for themselves the empty tomb, and left again. Once more Mary was left in the quiet of the morning, in a place to remember and reflect. Just as one needs the quiet to hear the songs of the smallest birds, Mary needed the quiet to hear the angels of God. Now she was open to see and hear the angels say to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” She was open to see and hear the gardener say to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” “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 heard the smallest of sounds, like the call of a bird that will be drowned out during the hustle and bustle of the day but can be heard in the early morning hours. She heard the voice of her friend and teacher. She turned to him and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” I hope she stayed awhile, to be in Jesus’ presence, to have a quiet and reassuring conversation with him, before she ran off to tell the others as Jesus instructed her to do.
Mornings are my time to be open to the possibilities of the day. It is early morning now as I write this, a time when I am open to hear the voice of God and to be stirred to do what God calls me to do. Mornings are the time of day to watch the darkness fade and the light appear. In the darkness of our lives, it is Jesus who brings the light to our day and drives away the fears. It is Jesus who gives us a song to hear and creation to appreciate and hope to be reborn. I hope you allow yourself a time in the day to be still and to be open to hear God speak to you.
There is a legend about Mary of Magdala that is depicted in our illustration and in many icons. After the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Mary Magdalene gained an invitation to a banquet held by Emperor Tiberius Caesar. She held up a white egg in front of him and declared “Jesus is risen.” He laughed and said, “that is as possible as your egg turning to red”, and before he could complete his sentence, the egg had indeed turned to red. Mary declared again, “Jesus is risen.” On that day many people in attendance became followers of Christ.
This little story may be hard to believe, and it is relegated to legend, not gospel. But consider the power of God in your life when you are open to hear and believe. As we so often say, with God all things are possible.
++++ Coming May 1st ++++
Chapter 28
Sapphira and Lydia
Content provided by Author Lindsay Hardin Freeman
Illustration: Claire Elam