Reverend Ref +

EASTER DAY
JOHN 20:1-18

Our eyes deceive us. They blind us to what is real and make us believe what isn't there. When we see the familiar in unfamiliar places, they block our minds from recognizing both what and whom we know.

I remember watching an episode of Andy Griffith and saw a young actor probably all of 25 who was playing the part of the new town doctor. Even though I recognized him, I couldn't recall why I recognized him.

I also officiated high school football for 13 years before I went to seminary. Most of that time was spent with the same group of guys. We would meet every week before the season started to discuss rules and plays and whatnot, and then we would meet every other week during the season. We traveled together, dressed together, worked games together and ate together. But if I ran into one of them at the grocery store, I couldn't for the life of me remember their name or even why I recognized him. I would sometimes strike up a conversation in hopes that their voice would jog my memory.

Mary Magdalene was in the same situation. Mary had been one of Jesus' disciples for quite sometime. In fact, she could be considered one of the "inner circle." Ever since he had healed her of her seven demons, she was involved in his ministry. And, it would seem, she had enough money to support the cause. And, in case you are wondering, let me point out that Mary Magdalene was NOT the prostitute we hear so much about.

So Mary was a long time disciple and followed him around the area. She was used to seeing him in certain situations. She was used to seeing him as the center of attention. Healing the blind, curing the sick and raising the dead will do that to a person. Remember when the woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched his robe? He said, "Who touched me?" His disciples said, "You've got to be kidding me! There are a hundred people here." Mary has expectations of Jesus.

And today, there are no more crowds. Jesus is dead. Mary returns to the tomb today, probably to finish the burial preparations that were interrupted by the Sabbath. When she gets there, she finds the tomb open and the body gone. Not only did Mary have expectations of Jesus, but she has exptectation of dead people; and one of those expectations is that dead people stay where they were put. So she goes and tells the other disciples.

Peter and the other guy check it out. She follows. Eventually, they leave her alone, and she begins to cry. Looking into the tomb to double check, she sees two angels, and they ask her why she is crying. She turns around and says, "Because they've taken him away." Why did she turn? Because we don't like people to see us cry. We don't want to appear vulnerable. So we try to hide our tears.

And when she turns around, there's another guy asking her why she's crying. This is like a bad episode of 1st Century Dr. Phil. "Why are you crying?" Assuming he's the gardener, and not wanting to have to look at this guy either, she turns around again. She sees the face. Maybe it was a familiar face. Maybe it was like that actor on the Andy Griffith show or my fellow officials in the grocery store. But there are no crowds to trigger her memory. There are no miracles. Her eyes see, but they also deceive. Her eyes blocked her mind from understanding based on her preconceived ideas of both Jesus and how dead people are supposed to behave.

While she has her back to the "gardener," it happens. Her eyes no longer block her vision, and in a calm, soothing voice -- the same voice that she heard heal her of her demons -- she hears, "Mary." Now she knows. Now it clicks. This isn't the gardener. This is Jesus risen from the dead! This is Jesus -- alive! What her eyes and mind could not accept, her ears and heart did.

Maybe we need to quit looking so hard for Jesus. Maybe our eyes deceive us and blind us to where the risen Christ is. Instead of spending our time looking for Jesus in church, or in spirituality, or in the mountains, or wherever, we need to spend some time listening. We need to listen to other people and have conversations with other people. And maybe in those conversations, we will hear Jesus talking through the other person and with us. Maybe we need to slow down, close our eyes, and listen for Jesus to speak to us.

Rather than trying to see Jesus in the other person, which can be difficult, we need to spend some time listening to the other's stories. Hopefully through honest listening, unclouded by our visual preconceptions, we can hear Jesus and respond to his call. So close your eyes and listen. And maybe, like I was able to recall the soothing voice of Fr. Mulcahey, we will be able to hear the familiar voice of Jesus reaching us in unfamiliar and unexpected places.