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APRIL NEWSLETTER
John 20: 13-18
They said to her, "Woman,
why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my
Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14} Saying this, she
turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was
Jesus. {15} Jesus said to her, "Woman , why are you weeping? Whom do you
seek?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him,
"Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid
him, and I will take him away." {16} Jesus said to her, "Mary ." She
turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). {17}
Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the
Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my
Father and your Father, to my God and your God." {18} Mary Magdalene
went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told
them that he had said these things to her.
Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, "Go to my brethren and say to them, I am
ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."
In this way, Jesus made Mary the first apostle; the first
preacher of the Gospel. The first
sermon was five simple words: "I have seen the Lord!".
With these words Mary Magdalene shattered the gloom and fear of
Good Friday, and brought hope to the world.
"I have seen the Lord!"
No longer does death rule the day.
For Jesus has come back from the grave; to give life, hope, and
forgiveness. "I have seen
the Lord!", and He is no longer dead.
He is alive! And so shall we live!!
It is quite an honor for Mary Magdalene to be chosen as the first
preacher of the Good News of Easter.
Some say, Mary Magdalene was the prostitute whom Jesus forgave
and saved from the angry mob.
If so, she was saved for this purpose; to tell the disciples
about the Resurrection.
On Good Friday (April 10) we remember the death of Jesus with a service
of darkness. Then, the
darkness is shattered by our Easter celebrations.
With joy we hear the Easter Proclamation, "He is Not Here! He is
Risen!". For this
proclamation is our salvation!
But, like Mary, we have been saved for a purpose; to tell others
about the Resurrection. To
go to the world and say, "I have seen the Lord! He is Risen!".
Happy Easter!! |