Week 27 - Death overcome

I let myself be carried by the music to the tomb of Jesus where Mary stands, to remain there, in the emptiness, waiting and listening for whether the voice of the risen Lord can be heard.

Music: Da Pacem Domine, Arvo Pärt, performed by The Hilliard Ensemble

Da pacem Domine in diebus nostris,

Grant peace, Lord, in our days,

quia non est alius qui pugnet pro nobis,

for there is no one else who fights for us,

nisi tu Deus noster.

but You, our God.

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/track/6iDlSzDMjsMkJp15IUGtRj?si=89e8e0d8a9884f9e

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5kG8-boqPs

Gospel of John, 20:11–17

Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, 'Why are you weeping?' She said, 'They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him!' After saying this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, 'Why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?'

Mary remains present at the empty tomb. Those present do not try to stop her crying or comfort her, but instead, through their questions, they enter more deeply into her sorrow. Perhaps this image of Mary evokes a moment in my own life that feels—or has felt—empty, open, or uncertain. Stay present there, without immediately trying to solve or understand it.

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.' Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, 'Rabbouni!' (which means 'Teacher').

Where there was only emptiness and searching, it is the speaking of her name that causes Mary to turn and recognize Jesus. In doing so, she makes the movement from the empty tomb to new life. What shows me the way from emptiness or death to life?

We allow ourselves once more to be carried by the music and listen for whether something resonates within it of what has emerged in the past half hour.