Center Stage

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So, Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.

Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. (John 20:1-9)

Here we have another reading about a removed stone from Jesus’ tomb.  This time there is no young man in a white robe, and there are burial cloths left behind.  John tells the story differently from other Gospel writers.  Mary of Magdala (Magdalene) can only assume someone has taken him and his whereabouts are unknown.

This Easter Sunday we can ask the same question.  Where is Jesus in these turbulent times of our lives?  Where have we put him?  In the center of our lives?  Somewhere in the outskirts of our minds?  This Easter is another opportunity for us to soul-search and give honest answers.  

His whereabouts are known.  He is in our hearts.  Easter is the time for him to rise up in our hearts and take center stage as the leading man in the drama of our lives.  The script of that drama includes such lines as, "Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely."  

Deacon David Pierce