From Grief to Joy (Easter)
The gospel of John has Mary Magdalene as the first to see the empty tomb. This woman who initially had been fully healed by Jesus is now in deep grief after the realization that her hope and salvation, Jesus, has died and is now gone. In the depth of her grief, she hears the man she assumes to be the gardener say her name, and she suddenly experiences the resurrection. We, too, have experienced grief, and when we are asked whom we are seeking, we can hear our name being called by the risen Christ. Jesus tells her not to hold on, implying that things are not the same and asking her, and us, to follow. The last thing Jesus tells her, and us, is to go and tell. (NOTE: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, we are livestreaming the early service, using a chamber choir and having limited congregation. NOTE: The video begins with the sermon, but once it starts you can scroll back to the beginning of the service if you want. The entire service is videoed.)
References
- John :20:1-18