John 20:1–2, 11–18 (NRSV)
Read John 20:1–2, 11–18 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 20Early 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. Verse 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him."
Verse 11But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; Verse 12and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. Verse 13They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." Verse 14When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Verse 15Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" 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." Verse 16Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Verse 17Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Verse 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Devotion
Today, we observe the festival for Mary Magdalene, Apostle*. Mary Magdalene lingered at Jesus’ tomb; her perseverance bore great fruit. Mary’s healer (Luke 2:8), teacher, friend, and, now, Savior called her by name. Only then, did she recognize him. The power of a prolonged, first name relationship yields enormous joy, comfort, insights, privileges, and definitely, responsibilities. Mary Magdalene, a woman on her culture’s fringes, was the first person asked by the Son of God to share the news of his resurrection. With her obedient response to her Lord’s call, Mary Magdalene became known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Like Mary, must I linger longer in the Word and prayer in order to hear God call me by name? Do I need to persevere to develop fruitful, insightful, and rich relationships with people and cultures I currently do not even recognize? Whom have I excluded who has a message for me?
*See “By All Your Saints,” v. 16, ELW 421
Prayer
Enduring God, grant me the perseverance to hear you call me by name. Slow me to learn my neighbors’ names and to hear them share their words of wisdom with me. Amen.