Hello friends and welcome to this Easter Lectio Divina.
We're going to be with John 20 11 to 18 and listen to the words that talk about Jesus and the resurrection.
Before we arrive at these words I invite you to arrive into this space in this moment to become aware of your body in the room and of your breath in your body,
Taking a few deeper wider breaths and as you do welcoming stillness,
Opening yourself to receive these words as a gift.
So I'm going to read these words three times.
On this first reading simply let the words come without attaching to any in particular.
Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene.
Mary stood crying outside the tomb.
While she was still crying she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels there dressed in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been.
One at the head and the other at the feet.
Woman why are you crying they asked her.
She answered they have taken my lord away and I do not know where they have put him.
Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Woman why are you crying Jesus asked her.
Who is it that you are looking for?
She thought he was the gardener so she said to him if you took him away sir tell me where you have put him and I will go and get him.
Jesus said to her Mary.
She turned toward him and said in Hebrew Rabboni this means teacher.
Do not hold on to me Jesus told her because I have not yet gone back up to the father but go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my father and their father my God and their God.
So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had told her.
On this second reading notice any words or phrases that capture your attention.
Mary stood crying outside the tomb while she was still crying she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels there dressed in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been one at the head and the other at the feet.
Woman why are you crying they asked her.
She answered they have taken my Lord away and I do not know where they have put him.
Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Woman why are you crying Jesus asked her.
Who is it that you are looking for she thought he was the gardener so she said to him if you took him away sir tell me where you have put him and I will go and get him.
Jesus said to her Mary.
She turned toward him and said in Hebrew Rabboni this means teacher.
Do not hold on to me Jesus told her because I have not yet gone back up to the father but go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my father and their father my God and their God.
So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had told her.
On this third and final reading welcome those words or phrases to bring their gift.
Notice how you're responding to them how they make you feel how your body's responding.
Notice the invitation that they bring and the gift that they offer you.
Mary stood crying outside the tomb while she was still crying she bent over and looked in the tomb and saw two angels there dressed in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been one at the head and the other at the feet.
Woman why are you crying they asked her.
She answered they have taken my Lord away and I do not know where they have put him.
Then she turned around and saw Jesus standing there but she did not know that it was Jesus.
Woman why are you crying Jesus asked her.
Who is it that you are looking for?
She thought he was the gardener so she said to him if you took him away sir tell me where you have put him and I will go and get him.
Jesus said to her Mary she turned toward him and said in Hebrew rabboni this means teacher.
Do not hold on to me Jesus told her because I have not yet gone back up to the father but go to my brothers and tell them that I am returning to him who is my father and their father my God and their God.
So Mary Magdalene went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and related to them what he had told her.
Please do linger with these words you may want to do some journaling you may want to just let them settle into your being and bring the fullness of their gift.
I've recorded a short reflection of my own response to these words as a separate meditation which is available on insight timer.
May you know joy and hope in the resurrection promise.
May you know that in every death resurrection follows.
May you be blessed this Easter.
Amen.
