Saturday, April 18, 2020
The Rev. Rob Stevens
The Collect
We thank you, heavenly Father, that you have delivered us from the dominion of sin and death and brought us into the kingdom of your Son; and we pray that, as by his death he has recalled us to life, so by his love he may raise us to eternal joys; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
The Gospel
Mark 16:9-15,20
After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation."
And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.
Reflection
Have you ever had good news or important news to share and people didn’t believe you? Mary Magdalene must have been so frustrated! There is a song called Submarines by The Lumineers that talks about this reality. A little boy sees a submarine during WWII but the town laughs at him and doesn’t believe. Being listened to and heard and believed is so important. It is at the heart of belonging. To be dismissed is actually traumatic.
Mary was vindicated, Jesus shows up to the rest of the gang. This story makes me wonder how I can be more attentive to the stories that people tell. How might I not be quick to dismiss someone’s good news? During this time of quarantine, it has been the stories of resurrection that have buoyed me when I have been down. It has been the stories of kindness and care for the least, the lost and the last in our midst. These stories have power to heal not only the hearer but the teller. Parker Palmer, a Quaker and writer, has a beautiful little book titled Listening to your Life. It is about discernment, but the title says is all. I am learning to listen to my life and in doing so it is opening up my ears to hear the life of others. I commend it to you.
May we have grace today and, in the future, to listen as if we have never heard and to give power to the stories of grace and mercy that surround us. Be good to you and listen well.