Easter Tuesday
Acts 2:36-41
Jn 20:11-18
So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord…
Let’s do a contemplative exercise. Close your eyes; actually, don’t close your eyes, as you will need to keep them open to read this reflection.
Imagine you are Mary of Magdala. You have been following Jesus along with His disciples for about three years now. He has cast demons out of you, and given you a new lease on life, life to the fullest, life eternal. You have come to believe that He is the Messiah, the Saviour, the Son of God. Imagine the shock of it all when He was falsely accused, unjustly arrested and tried, brutally tortured and finally, excruciatingly crucified. Imagine the overwhelming sorrow that is engulfing your heart; it is most certainly broken…shattered into a million pieces.
Yet, you did not give up your love for Jesus. You wanted to give Him a proper burial according to the Jewish custom at that time. You went to the tomb looking for the body of Christ. Imagine the dismay of discovering that His body is not there! The first thought that entered your mind would be — someone has taken His body away. Could it be the Pharisees or scribes who hated Jesus and wanted to destroy what evidence remained of His existence? The anguish and the helplessness that must have been felt. In your distress, and eyes blinded with tears, you are grasping at straws, grabbing the first person you see, asking them if they had seen your Lord; not recognizing the person that you are searching for. Imagine the joy of seeing the very person that you are looking for. More importantly, the very same person who you were mourning for is alive and standing in front of you! Imagine the joy! Imagine the hope! Your broken heart has mended, it has come alive again, beating stronger than ever!
Now you can open your eyes. Literally and figuratively. Do you see what Mary saw? Do you feel what Mary felt? How did you feel when you heard Jesus call your name? What about when Jesus said do not cling to him, as He is ascending to our Heavenly Father? If you feel infinite joy and hope, that is the Easter joy Christians speak of. That is indeed that hope that we have in our God, that one day, we will go to Heaven and be with Jesus and our Heavenly Father, where there is no more tears, no more strife, and all the broken hearts are mended; where there is only joy, peace and most of all — love.
Sounds like a fairy tale? Nope. This is the Christian hope we cling to, that we believe in because Jesus told us. Jesus, the Son of God, who was cruelly tortured and crucified, rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven. The very same Jesus told us all this.
Friends, if this doesn’t give you hope and some peace about all the turmoil in the world, in your life as well, I don’t know what will. Maybe you feel you live a blessed life, maybe you feel you are in a valley of tears; whatever your situation is in life, ponder on the joy that Mary felt when she recognized Jesus. In realising that He is risen as He said He would; that all the things He taught are the truth, this realization should give us immeasurable hope. With hope, along comes love, joy, and peace. Isn’t that what we all yearn for in life?
(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)
Prayer: Dear Jesus, open our hearts, our minds, and our eyes, so that we can recognize You daily in our lives. Through the happy, the sad, the joyful and the difficult times, may we never lose sight of You, Your resurrection, and Your promises. May we be like Mary of Magdala — rejoice at recognising you and be filled with hope.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, thank you for giving Your only Son to us for our salvation. Thank you for Your infinite love and mercy and never giving up on us. For this and so much more, we offer to You, our praise and thanksgiving.
OXYGEN 
Leave a comment