This is No Fairy Tale

~~~ Acts of the Apostles 2:36-41 ~~~ Psalm 33 ~~~ John 20:11-18 ~~~

In John's writing right after the Resurrection of the Lord,

we find Mary Magdalene inspecting the tomb.

She was weeping, understandable as she was in mourning.

...she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.

Angels were sitting inside the dark empty tomb.

Things had changed once again.

At the birth of Jesus angels sang heavenly songs;

now at his death they are sitting in silence.

They sit one at the head and one at the foot where he had been,

honoring this holy space.

This space where the Father raised up Jesus,

giving him his new glorified body.

Mary comes to the tomb not certain of what she will find,

but she was prepared to love him even in death.

Jesus appears to her in her grief and in her confusion.

He brings her comfort.

He calms her fears...He answers her questions.

He speaks her name...the voice she had become so accustomed to hearing.

He speaks her name...Mary.

The voice she thought she would never hear again.

Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father.

He has previously told the apostles 

he was going away, that they could not come.

Now that he is risen he tells Mary 

she must not hold on to him.

Things had changed.

He cannot stay. This is not where he belongs.

He must return to the Father who sent him.

So why does Jesus make these appearances after he is risen?

Does he appear to others, not recorded in the Gospels?

Personally, I believe that he most certainly 

appeared to his mother, Mary.

Jesus knew that his friends wanted to believe 

all that he had told him about his death and resurrection;

he wanted them to see him.  Now there would be no doubt.

There would be no fairy tale stories about his resurrection.

Jesus is the 'happily ever after'.

This is no fairy tale, this for real.

He is the promise come true.

Alleluia, Alleluia, Alleluia!

Jesus blesses us with his promise of life eternal.

Peace.

His Words

~~~Memorial of Saint Gregory the Great~~~

~~~Pope and Doctor of the Church~~~

 

~~~1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, 9-11 ~~~ Psalm 27 ~~~ Luke 4:31-37 ~~~

 

"What is there about his word?"

 

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert.

He returned after his time of prayer, fasting, and solitude
filled even more with the Spirit.

Jesus brings in his spoken words life, love, healing, compassion, truth,
justice, forgiveness, peace, abundance, happiness, correction...
The list could continue on longer.
Jesus never delivers a message of hate through his words.

I truly believe there was something very unique about even the tone
and quality of the voice of Jesus. 

Men followed him just by hearing the sound of his invitation.
Crowds gathered just to hear the words he offered them.

Demons recognized the Spirit of God cloaked in his words.
Yet there are so many today who make the choice to ignore his words...
to distort his words...to misinterpret his words.

His words are always from the source...God the Father...
Jesus, the Word made flesh.

 

 We who strive to hear his words more clearly,
 have then the responsibility to let them influence the words we speak.
 

  

...encourage one another and build one another up,
as indeed you do.

The words we speak to one another do make a difference.
Words of encouragement are much sweeter to the ears
than words of ridicule.

The words of Jesus have the power to heal and to cast out demons.
Jesus was 'the word' made flesh.
His words carry more of everything there is about God.

How are you letting the power of the words of Jesus
guide and lead you in your life?
Today allow God to bless you with his words.
His words are Spirit and Life.
May the peace of Jesus be with you.

 

Gregory the Great is known for his contributions
to the Liturgy of the Mass.

What we know as Gregorian Chant is attributed to Gregory the Great.

Saint Gregory the Great, pray for us.