2114AFC040221 – While it was still dark
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John 20:1 – 1 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.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with all of you. Today is “Good Friday.” Last week we mentioned Good Friday as we considered the Repentant Thief crucified to the right of Jesus’ cross, and said, “The Precious Blood of Jesus “is poured out for many” (See Mark 14:24) on Good Friday, but we also know that such grief is “Good Grief” because it is a Holy Grief in the same way that Good Friday is a Holy Day of Remembrance – “Do this in memory of Me.” Our Good Grief contributes to our sincere contrition and effective repentance so that one day we, too, will be with Jesus in Paradise after witnessing That Old Rugged Cross with him.”
This weekend we will experience again the beauty and the sadness of the Triduum which consists of Holy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. These are all celebrated in anticipation of the Great Feast of Resurrection Day which most people call Easter Sunday. Thursday night we remember The Last Supper, the Washing of Feet, the betrayal of Jesus by Judas, and Jesus’ arrest and “trial.” It was during that trial that Peter thrice denied ever knowing Jesus. Then Friday comes after a sleepless night filled with abuse and pain, Jesus is brought before Pilate. Pilate sees no point in stirring up trouble by crucifying The King of the Jews, so he tries to get out of it by having Jesus scourged – nearly to the point of death. The Jewish religious and civil officials insist on condemning Jesus, Pilate finally relents, and turns him over to the Romans for crucifixion at 9 in the morning. Jesus endures hours of agony – the whole point of crucifixion was to cause as much pain as possible – and at 3 in the afternoon he dies.
As evening approaches, a secret Disciple name Joseph of Arimathea asks Pilate for the body so it will not be exposed during the Day of Preparation for the Passover. Jesus is placed in a borrowed tomb. During that day, the Sabbath, he is dead and buried, but he is also alive in Spirit; we know this because he goes to encourage the Souls in Sheol who are waiting for his Resurrection. No one knows that the spectacular event of The Resurrection is only hours away! It would come on the first day of the week, echad which literally means “one” or “first” because the six “workdays” of the week are named 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6. The Seventh Day is called Shabbat the Sabbath, the day God rested from all his work of Creation and sanctified as Holy. That is why we say to those who celebrate the Sabbath, “Shabbat shalom,” which means Sabbath of Peace. For Jesus’ Disciples, that Shabbat was nowhere near peaceful – it was absolutely horrible. It was so horrible that all of them were justifiably in fear for their lives. Their Lord, the Messiah, had been killed! Who would be next?
And then something extraordinary happens. A truly remarkable woman dis an exceptionally courageous thing. She went to the tomb where the dead body of Jesus had been placed so she could anoint the body with spices in accordance with Jewish burial customs. We have two accounts of this event – one in the Gospel of Mark and one in the Gospel of John. In Mark 16:1-12, we read that “Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.” Mary Magdalene was completely dedicated to Jesus because he had cast out seven demons (See Mark 16:9 and Luke 8:2). In the Gospel of John – our Key Verse for today – Mary is alone, and acting “while it was still dark.” In John’s Gospel, this is an important statement rooted in his theme throughout his account: The Light of the World and the rejection of that Light by the Darkness of Sin and Death.
John sets the scene “while it was still dark,” that is, while the world was still in the grip of sin and death. The World – including Mary Magdalene – does not know that the Light has risen and Darkness flees from that Light – Jesus. John tells us right up front in his Gospel (John 1:1-14 which is often quoted in these pages), and at least 16 times he refers to Jesus and his Mission as Light. After the Resurrection, the Gospel of John continues with important accounts of Jesus interacting with Mary Magdalene, the message Jesus gave her to take to the other Disciples – his Apostles – and the description of Thomas’ reaction to their assertion that they had seen the Risen Lord. Then we have the beautiful recounting of Jesus meeting with seven of the Apostles at Galilee. This narrative includes what I call the Penance of Peter; three times Jesus asks, “Peter, do you love me?” Three times Peter answers, “Yes, Lord, you know I do.” Jesus tells him to feed the lambs, to tend the sheep, and to feed the sheep. Peter is to be the Shepherd for the Holy and Apostolic Church Jesus will establish through Peter’s leadership. We know now what none of the Apostles or Disciples knew in those days after the Resurrection: There would be much for them to endure. One of the greatest examples of that kind of endurance is Mary of Magdala.
This Mary, the Magdalene, knew the torment of great sin, having given herself over to demonic possession for many years. There are many fascinating “accounts” of her life – even a noncanonical “Gospel” – but what we know of her from Scripture is really all we need to know. She was courageous, outspoken, empowered by the Holy Spirit, and possessing great faith in her Teacher. She would go with him all the way from Capernaum to Calvary and beyond. Several years ago I read an excellent “docunovel” (↔ Click Link) titled Mary, called Magdalene by Margaret George. You might want to try it sometime. It is a fascinating look into the era when Jesus the Christ of God walked on this Earth. One very strong impression I gained from that book was the amazing magnitude of The Magdalene’s endurance. On that topic, I want to share with you another boatload of Scripture on endurance. The purpose will become clear when we come to the concluding remarks in this post. Please read (don’t just skim through) the following:
James 5:11 – 11 Indeed we call blessed those who showed endurance. You have heard of the endurance of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
1 Corinthians 4:12 – 12 and we grow weary from the work of our own hands. When reviled, we bless; when persecuted, we endure;
2 Corinthians 1:6 – 6 if we are being afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation; if we are being consoled, it is for your consolation, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we are also suffering.
Matthew 24:9-13 – 9 “Then they will hand you over to be tortured and will put you to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of my name. 10 Then many will fall away, and they will betray one another and hate one another. 11 And many false prophets will arise and lead many astray. 12 And because of the increase of lawlessness, the love of many will grow cold. 13 But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Mark 13:13 – 13 and you will be hated by all because of my name. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.
Hebrews 12:7 – 7 Endure trials for the sake of discipline. God is treating you as children; for what child is there whom a parent does not discipline?
1 Peter 2:19 – 19 For it is a credit to you if, being aware of God, you endure pain while suffering unjustly.
In a recent post – 2106AFC020521 – Searching in the Dark – we “anticipated” this telling of the story of Mary of Magdala. Mary went to minister to Jesus even though everything she knew in this World told her he was gone. She endured the fear, traveled in the darkness and cold, and carried with her the resolution to do the right thing. Recall that Passover was during the Hebrew month of Abib which is now the month Nisan in the current Jewish calendar; this is the March-April part of the calendar we use. Temperatures in Jerusalem would have been in the mid-50s to the upper-60s. Despite the danger, the cold, the immense sorrow she endured, she got up and went to Jesus while it was still dark. Belovéd, this is a dark, dark time, and a time for serious prayer for, with, and about each other; for our Nation, for our civic and religious leaders; for our families, for our neighbors; in thanksgiving, adoration, and praise for our Heavenly Father and his only-begotten Son; for our own souls; for our enemies and oppressors; and for the innocent at all stages of life from conception to natural death. We can learn a lot from Jesus’ prayer life, and it is especially important to learn and know that an early prayer in the dark is a great prayer to make when searching for Peace and Hope. Like Mary of Magdala, we can summon the faith, the discernment, the patience and perseverance, and the humility to exercise THE POWER OF PRAYER. I have come to believe that God only gives four answers to prayer:
1. “Yes!”
2. “Not yet.”
3. “I have something better in mind.”
4. “You’ve got to be kidding!
Jesus leads the way, and the Way goes to Calvary. Mary followed Jesus on the Way, and endured witnessing the horrific death of her Rabbouni. Her love and faith is an example for our struggles in this dark hour. Think about her story, the crushing grief, the paralyzing fear, the indomitable courage, and the inexpressible JOY she knew when Jesus spoke her name.
Listen carefully, Belovéd. He is speaking your name, too. Do you, do I, do we have the faith and love that Mary Magdalene had? Can we not only endure these dark days, but truly prevail over all the World casts onto us? Will we rise early in the morning to minster to Jesus, to feed his lambs, to tend his sheep? Will we walk this Lonesome Valley (↔ Music Link) with Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome?
As we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord this weekend, let us also anticipate our resurrection with him when he returns in Glory as he promised. It’s not dark when we have The Light of the World (↔ Music Link). HAPPY RESURRECTION DAY!
Whatever, whenever, wherever, whoever, however, if ever, forever —
at your service, Belovéd!
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Unless otherwise indicated, all scripture passages are from the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) New Revised Standard Version Bible: Catholic Edition, copyright © 1989, 1993 the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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Aloha Friday Messages by Charles O. Todd, III is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License
