Listen

Jesus said to her, “Don’t hold on to me, for I haven’t yet gone up to my Father. Go to my brothers and sisters and tell them, ‘I’m going up to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene left and announced to the disciples, “I’ve seen the Lord.” Then she told them what he said to her.

John 20:17-18

Think

Finally! Christ is risen, and Mary knows it! Hallelujah! Mary Magdalene sets out toward the disciples and becomes, according to John, the first person to preach the resurrection. But not before Jesus says, “I can’t stay long.” Jesus had spent years with his followers — teaching them, feeding them, praying with them, challenging them. And on Easter morning as he lives beyond death, he reminds those followers that the lessons he’s shared are also meant to live beyond his time on earth.

Put yourself in Mary’s sandals, and imagine being the first one to share, “I’ve seen the Lord!” How would you feel? Confident? Nervous? Excited? Uncomfortable? A little bit of all of it? Our particular shoes might vary these days, but we can still follow in Mary’s footsteps. Where have you seen God lately? Spend some time today thinking about how you might share about it in your own words.

Allison Wehrung

Pray

Guiding God, lead me to walk in your way of love, following the generations of faithful people who have told your story.

Amen.

Go

He speaks, and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing;
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing.

And He walks with me, and He talks with me,
And He tells me I am His own,
And the joy we share as we tarry there,
None other has ever known.

C. Austin Miles in “In the Garden” (1913)