Having lived through a year of pandemic, maybe we can better understand Mary and the disciples after Jesus’ crucifixion: Exhausted, grieving, shattered. So many hopes destroyed. The threat of death hanging over everything. They’d killed Jesus and they were next. Death was pursuing them — as it continues to purse us.
But miraculously, the power to reverse the plague unexpectedly arose. The Risen Jesus appeared to Mary. So common was the sight Mary thought he was a groundskeeper — except he was her God. Her salvation stood before her only she didn’t see it.
When I got my first Covid vaccination, it didn’t go like I’d thought. I thought I’d be elated; that relief would pour over me; and that a year’s worth of stress would instantly drain away, filling me with happiness. But none of that happened. What did happen was that my arm hurt. A lot. For three days. That’s how salvation often appears. We expect to soar in the air. But actually we’re just shot in the arm.
I think I’ve had it all wrong about salvation, resurrection, redemption: I’ve been expecting Hollywood special effects, but maybe our Risen Savior mostly comes to us like he did to Mary — in unassuming, unexpected ways. We want fireworks, but what we really need is a friend. We look for signs in the sky — when the real Easter miracle is simply, actually right here:
Resurrection comes — we drink from the cup of salvation — when we attend recovery meetings over a cup of Folgers. Salvation arrives not in over-powering mountain top glories, but in quiet, valley of the shadow of death moments — like when God simply, plainly speaks our name through the concern of a friend whose love helps us endure. We are redeemed — made whole — not in events worthy of the evening news about Washington-level developments, but in ordinary, under-the-radar ways like getting a Covid shot at Wal-Mart.
Jesus described the Kingdom of God and its salvation in very basic ways: Salt and sheep, bread and light, humility and love. Mary thought she was just seeing the gardener, but as he spoke her name, she recognized her Risen Lord.
We decorate Easter with fragrant lilies and fancy chocolates, and all of that is good. But Easter mostly comes to us under wraps and without fanfare. We try to stay awake during another snoozer of a sermon, but somehow despite the poor preaching we hear Jesus speaking to us. We try to keep our messy lives on track, feeling we never live up to God’s expectations or our own, but the still, small voice of God comes, saying: “I love you just as you are.” We scan the sky for miracles, but all the while The Miracle stands right before us, saying: “I am here. You don’t have to do anything, because I’ve already done it all. The curse is broken. You are free. Walk with me and together we will take the journey that leads to life; that is life. Nothing — not even death — will separate us. Now, let’s begin to make the world right. You don’t have to save the world. I’ve already done that. Just live with me in a life of love and see how that changes everything.”
The moment Mary had with Jesus is the moment you have with him right now. That is Easter. That is salvation. That is life. You can’t earn it because it’s always freely given. That’s why it can never be lost — because it doesn’t depend on you. It forever flows because of Christ’s undying, unquenchable, resurrecting love.
Like Mary, all we have to do is turn to Christ. He is here saying your name. He knows your pain, your fatigue, your brokenness. For he, too, has been broken — for us — and he has been raised for us to make us all a new creation. He will continue to bring us out of this time of plague for he is the cure that is here to save you.
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In reading this, your heart may be stirred. What you’re feeling is the Holy Spirit drawing you to Christ. To begin or renew a relationship with Jesus, just pray:
“Lord, help me receive your love. I regret the wrong I’ve done. Forgive me. Jesus, I believe you are God’s Son and the Savior of the world. Be my Savior. Save me from myself. Save me for yourself. Enter my heart. Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Help me to serve you faithfully and well. Help me to love as you love. Lead me in your Way, Truth, and Life now and forever. Continue to show me who you are and who I am in you. Amen.”
Jesus says: “Behold, I make all things new.” The good news is that that definitely includes YOU!
God bless you this Easter and always.