Scripture: John 20:14
Journal: What is keeping you from realizing that the Risen Jesus is with you
today? How will you try to recognize the
ways and the places that he is showing up in your life? What is his invitation to you today?
Reflection: “At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she
didn’t realize that it was Jesus.” (John 20:14, NIV)
Not realizing is an
interesting phenomenon. Because a large
part of not realizing is that you don’t realize that you’re not
realizing. That’s what makes it so
tricky. We get so far inside our own
paradigm or perspective that it is all we can see. Everything is seen and interpreted through
that particular point of view. It is
complete tunnel vision. And it is not
something we can break out of on our own, we need help. It takes a voice from outside ourselves, or
from the Spirit within, to awaken us. It
takes an epiphany. Otherwise, we will
just keep maintaining the status quo.
Mary didn’t realize that it
was Jesus. Either her grief, or her
confusion, or her emotions, or her surroundings, or the chaos caused by all of
the above had her so preoccupied and consumed with her own point of view that
she could see nothing else. Her eyes
were so full of tears that her vision could not have been anything but
distorted. And in the midst of her pain
and sorrow and sadness, she could not see that she could not see.
It took a voice gently
calling her name. It took the
voice of her Savior. He was the only one
who could awaken her from the nightmare.
He was the only one who could help her realize that he was right there. And when he finally spoke, she came to life once
again. His resurrection had brought
about her own.
That’s the way things tend
to work in the spiritual life.
Oftentimes, we are so far inside ourselves, or our circumstances, that
we cannot see Jesus, even when he’s standing right in front of us. But thanks be to God that he doesn’t leave us
that way for long. Eventually he calls
out our name and we awaken from our sleep and are raised to new life once
again, just like Mary.
Speak to us this day, Risen
Jesus, that we might hear our name from your lips and realize that you
are with us, even in the midst of our sorrow and our tears. Raise us to new life again, that we might
help others to realize that you are present in the midst of their chaos
as well. Amen.
Prayer
Closing
Prayer: Speak to us this day, Risen Jesus, that we
might hear our name from your lips and realize that you are with us,
even in the midst of our sorrow and our tears.
Raise us to new life again, that we might help others to realize
that you are present in the midst of their chaos as well. Amen.
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