Read John 20:1-18

 

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.  So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”  Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.

 

The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.  He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.  Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.

 

Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.  Then the disciples returned to their homes.

 

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.  They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”

 

She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”  When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.

 

Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “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 turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).  Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”

 

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.

(NRSV)

 

—from Rev. Thaddaeus B. Allen, Regional Minister

 

            Have you ever been so full of life that you simply had no choice but to run? 

            I love watching toddlers get around.  As they grow and learn about their abilities, their bodies, and their surroundings, more often than not they run!  They also seem to be joy-filled as they journey forward in life. 

            To be so full of good news that we run joyfully forward in life is one of the nicest parts of Easter.  Christ is risen, and we run (metaphorically perhaps) into the places and people of our lives.  We cannot help but share and embody the Good News that Jesus Christ is alive, well, and present in us and in the Church. 

            Because of the Resurrection, we have life and we have it abundantly.  We are not wrapped in grave-cloths and entombed.  We are alive.  So live – rejoice – proclaim the Gospel – he lives!  This is the defining truth in our lives and in the world.

 

Life-giving God, with joy we celebrate the fullness

of the mystery of your love and redemption. 

We give thanks for life made new in Jesus Christ. 

Impel us into our world with renewed vigor and joy,

that we may gladly tell—in word, and in deed—the story

of Christ’s resurrection, and of our own!

Alleluia!  Christ is risen, indeed!  Alleluia!