Lenten reflections - Mary Magdalene 

This is the fourth of our weekly Lenten reflections run on a Wednesday for five weeks of Lent. 

Let me take you on a journey. Today is Easter Sunday. The first ever Easter Sunday and your name is Mary Magdalene. It's the early hours, barely dawn perhaps, but you're already up and out. There's a nip in the air as you wrap your shawl round just a little tighter.

Despite it being morning, you are exhausted. Sleep has not been forthcoming of late. Not really since Friday when it all kicked off and you witnessed the brutal and barbaric crucifixion of your best friend, Jesus. 
An innocent man. A beautiful soul who healed the sick. He wasn't a doctor, he was a carpenter by trade, but people were cured by him. People looked up to him and hung on his every word. The last three years or so have seen some incredible things. His knowledge of scripture surpassed anything you'd ever known. Even the chief priests for that matter. He was given a hero's welcome a week ago when we arrived in Jerusalem, but during the week the crowd turned on him and he was crucified. Even when he was dying, people mocked him. How could they do that! 

Anyway, you're on your way to anoint Jesus ' body. You have with you spices to anoint and honour Jesus. Mainly myrrh and aloes. Both important for preserving and honouring the dead. The aloes are fragrant . You have a couple of friends with you. Partly to help, partly for moral support. Partly,  just because…

As you continue your journey the wind picks up the fragrance of your spices. The scent takes you back on its own little journey. Back to when you were at the house of Simon. That night you were in Jesus' presence. Tears flowed now as they did then. Tears of love back then. Jesus sat relaxed, listening to the others in the house.

You sat at his feet. As your tears flowed, they settled at his feet. You dried them with your hair. Imagine that, an act of love such as that deserved the best. Jesus does so much walking. Even on water. And so you reward his feet with some soothing oils. 

A gasp and a tug of the arm from one of the girls brings you back to that first Easter Sunday again. You look up and see the tomb you are heading for in the distance. But there's a problem. The stone has gone. Not just any random stone, no this one was around 4 and a half foot tall and was meant to be in the entrance of Jesus' tomb. Someone's been here. They must have been. But who and more importantly why. Fearing sabotage may be the answer, you stop for a second. Emotions on a high alert and your pulse absolutely racing. In the stillness of the early morning, you can hear your own heartbeat and a wave of nausea hits you in the stomach. Tentatively, you scan the horizon for clues as to who might be there. 

W.W.J.D. - what WOULD Jesus do? He'd know. Best stay close. You huddle closer to the girls. Nervously, you start walking again. Footstep by footstep you near the tomb. Is Jesus still there? He must be. Unless… oh God no. Unless he's been taken! The mere suggestion that Jesus' body might not be there compounds your grief. Tears well up inside you and your throat hurts from trying to calm your emotions. No, there's only one way to find out. You need to see for yourself. You need to go on.  

You arrive. You stare in disbelief. The tomb is indeed empty. The cloth that Jesus was wrapped in is here. Jesus is not. Taking the cloth you hold it tight and sit where Jesus had been laid on Friday night. Another tsunami of tears arrives and the girls rush in to support you. The tomb is dimly lit, but you look around all the same. Definitely empty apart from living people. Still holding the cloth, you pray for guidance and wisdom on what to do now. You ask the girls to give you a few minutes. They head back outside and take a slow walk. Your head swirls. Questions and exhaustion seems to consume you. 

As you head back outside, your eyes need a moment to readjust to the light. Dawn has been breaking and the sun is coming up. The heat from the sun is welcomed after the nip of that fresh morning air. Squinting at first, and then it becomes clearer. There's a man a few feet away. He crouches down to appreciate the lilies. In your grief you presume that the man is the gardener. Maybe he knows what happened, maybe he rolled the stone away. You take a deep breath and plead with the man "sir if you know where Jesus is please tell me so I may go to him, attend to him and anoint him."

There's something about him that seems familiar. Strangely reassuring. The man takes a couple of steps towards you. He smiles gently and says "Mary". In that instance you absolutely recognise him. Rabbouni! Master! You're alive! Tears rise up again. But this time it is pure joy and elation as you indeed recognise the crucified Jesus standing right in front of you. You look back at the tomb for a second and back to Jesus. He smiles and says "yes, I am risen from the dead. Just as I promised". You go towards him to give him the biggest hug ever. Jesus stops you. But only because he really needs you. You are one of his most trusted friends and you were created in part for this very moment. Jesus speaks. 

"Mary I need you to get the message out to mum, Peter and the others that I have risen. You are the first person to witness that I am alive. The very first to acknowledge the miracle of my own resurrection. You are very blessed Mary, my friend. I am commissioning you to spread the gospel. The good news that the son of man has conquered sin and death and is alive forever more. Those who believe in me will have eternal life. Now is the time Mary, embrace the joy and run to my brothers. Be happy, God smiles on you!" 

You are truly elated now and with Jesus blessing you turn and run to find the others. You have a new found energy and a sense that the miracle of the resurrection is God's plan in action and you are part of it. You smile the biggest smile ever and arrive at the house where the others are. 

"Everyone, guess what! He's only gone and done it! He's actually done it Jesus is alive! I've seen him. All he told us is true.  Gods promise has been fulfilled. Alleluia!"

My friends, now it's our turn. Our turn to be breathless with joy that Jesus is alive and we are saved. I pray that Mary's commissioning and subsequent legacy fills you with a new energy to proclaim the gospel. God bless you all. The Lord is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia.

Questions to provoke thought and conversation

• As Mary, what feelings did you experience being in her story?
• What struck you the most hearing these words (whether a feeling or an experience)?
• What does Mary’s commission look like for us. How might we live it out?