Of the four accounts of the empty tomb, John’s is my favorite. It is so poignant to me that Mary is weeping in the face of the unthinkable: the death of Jesus and the seeming death of his ministry. Mary has it right, sometimes crying is the absolute proper response in the face of tragedy, heartbreak, and loss. The loss of her teacher is too great to bear so that when a man dressed as a gardener asks her why she is weeping, she springs into motion and demands that he tell her where he has placed the body of Jesus. But then Mary turns and recognizes Jesus. The word “recognize” means literally re-cognition or “think again.” Some times we see things or people and don’t make the proper association for them. Mary first thought that Jesus was a gardener….then she sees him for himself.
While this comprises just a scant few lines in the gospel, it speaks volumes for the nature of Christian living. Braced by the power of the Easter moment, we look again at the same mundane circumstance but we see more…so much more. This great reversal of tragedy inspires in us a renewed reverence for the gift of life and the presence of people around us. It reminds us of the presence of God.
Easter is a time for “re-cognition” or “think again” for all of us. Let us embrace the power of this High Holy Day and watershed moment to turn ourselves toward God and God’s abundant transformational power.
