A new beginning!

After the crucifixion comes the resurrection! Each one of us is a Mary who feels the pain of an ending and the joy of a new beginning ...

even when we are unsure of the nature of that new beginning. What we are sure of is that we trust in God for His faithful love ... no matter what.

Good Friday—Love Died in the Dark John 20:11 Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in.

Mary Magdala wept by the tomb. Her faith, hope and love betrayed by the leaders, authorities, those with the power who had crucified her Lord: pierced His Side with the sword of hatred, vengeance and death. And so her love died in the dark that day—that Friday when chaos reigned—that Friday that brought the end of her dream of the coming of King Jesus’ Kingdom. This Man Jesus Who had said to her Woman your sins are forgiven … Such love in the words: such release from life’s pains: such healing of a broken heart that had died daily in the dark of the oldest profession of all. Your sins are forgiven … The words washed her clean: the layers of pain fell away: the hard outer shell of pretence and protection melted at the sound of the words spoken from the Purest of Hearts. And now this Man lay dead in the tomb—destroyed by the hatred of men and women who could not bear His Light to shine in the darkness of their own lives … for their own lives had also died in the dark. Mary remembered the night she anointed the Head and the Feet of her Lord. She remembered the act of total devotion, not knowing it would be the final act of beauty before He walked up the hill to Calvary—she remembered the words of Judas, so cutting, so mocking. (What was wrong with him? Could he not see how much I loved our Lord because He had set me free from the sins that entangled me?) Mary wept all the more at the memory of love that she felt for her Jesus, her Lord. She wept tears of despair, disappointment, deep sorrow for her Love Who had died in the dark of that afternoon of violence and hatred and death reigning all around. The day Jesus died was the day the world knew, what it was to have Love die in the dark______________________________________________________________

Resurrection Day—All in Three Days Matt 28:1-10 I know He is risen, for He is not there and the angel has said it is so: He rolled back the stone and invited us in to see—and it was so. I was not afraid of this angelic being. I knew he had been sent from God to reveal the Truth of my Risen Lord: to know the Power of the Empty Tomb … This earthquake—it shook! This light—how it shone! But fear did not flood my being ... I knew in my heart there was Love in the air that had come down to earth to comfort and share the delight of our Risen Lord! He rolled back the stone (with great ease I might add!) and sat as I watched the scene. I then entered the Tomb where He had laid … I knew He’d been here and was not afraid for I knew the Power and the Presence of this One sent from God

to comfort and strengthen and guide us aright. And then as I left I looked up and saw in joy and wonderment, amazement and awe—

the One I call Love standing there in the trees! In love and adoration I feel to my knees,

for I knew it was true that my Jesus had risen …

had beaten the terror of death and the grave. And He spoke … Do not be afraid! The words etched into my soul: they flooded my being for with Jesus my Lord

there is nought to be conquered again … He accomplished it all in three days! ___ He goes before you and He is your Rearguard.