March 25, 2008: Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

Acts 2:36-41
Ps 33:4-5, 18-20, 22
John 20:11-18

They have taken my....

Let's put ourselves into the sandals of Mary Magdalene, the woman at the tomb in today's Gospel reading. We know how she feels. We too have wept because we couldn't find Jesus. For example:

They have taken my job, my income, and I don't know where Jesus is — where is his help?

My health is gone, and I don't know why God hasn't healed me. Where is he when I need him most?

The Lord has taken my husband (or my wife) and I'm so lonely. Why did God leave me alone?

Someone has gossiped against me and stolen my good reputation. Where was God to defend me?

That jerk has taken away my joy and I am miserable. Where is Jesus?

The world has taken my children away from the faith. Why isn't God revealing himself to them?

They have taken away my rights. Where is the God who gave me those rights?

I am hurting so badly! Will Jesus never rescue me from this? WHERE IS HE?

In the resurrection account described by John, Mary only needed to hear Jesus call her by name and she recognized that he was standing in front of her. How is Jesus calling out to you? Because we are a post-Pentecost people, he is calling you into ministry. It is after we hear him calling us to serve others that our eyes can finally see what has been hidden to us. We are healed of our pain not by sitting on our couches and crying, but by DOing something with our pain that helps others heal.

In Matthew's account (see Matt. 28:1-10), the women were fearful until an angel said, "Don't be afraid!" and Jesus repeated the message. Fear keeps us from seeing Jesus and from realizing the plan of redemption that God's trying to reveal to us. Like he did for Jesus, the Father wants to redeem our crosses and destructions by transforming them into new lives that will reveal Jesus to others.

In Luke's account (see Luke 24:1-8), angels said to the women, "Why do you seek the living one among the dead?" We fail to see Jesus whenever we focus on what's going wrong. Only when we stop clinging to our limited and self-centered perceptions can we notice that God is leading us into a victorious future.

Listen! Jesus is calling your name. Your resurrection has already begun!

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