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| Image by Giuseppe Milo |
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A GREETING
You show me the path of life.
In your presence there is fullness of joy;
in your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
(Psalm 16:11)
A READING
After the Sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, for an angel of the Lord, descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning and his clothing white as snow. For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus who was crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ This is my message for you.” So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them and said, “Greetings!” And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers and sisters to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”
(Matthew 28:1-10)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,
so that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.
(Psalm 90:14)
A SONG LYRIC
We shall be known by the company we keep,
by the ones who circle round to tend these fires.
We shall be known by the ones who sow and reap,
the seeds of change, alive from deep within the earth.
It is time now, it is time now that we thrive.
It is time we lead ourselves into the well.
It is time now, and what a time to be alive.
In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.
In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.
- song lyrics for "We Shall Be Known," by Ma Muse
sung in today's music above.
VERSE OF THE DAY
And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
(Matthew 28:20)
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| "He is Risen," by He Qi Chinese-American He Qi is resident artist at Fuller Theological Seminary. His work blends Chinese folk style and media with western Christian medieval art expressions. His expansive use of colour and simple representations offer a gently complex meditative scene. Drawing mostly from moments in the New Testament, his work fuses everyday experience with dramatic and mystical elements. How does this painting of the women on the morning of the third day draw us into the mystical and life-giving possibilities of resurrection? |
Jesus meets Mary Magdalene and the other women and reveals himself. The body of Jesus, which had been so tangible to Mary the day before as she and the others bathed and anointed him, is now transformed. A succession of moments of extravagant love have led to this resurrected Jesus who belongs to a non-corporeal but still earthly realm. Even just in these days: the anointing by nard, the bathing of feet, the carrying and anointing of the body have all led to this moment. We can imagine the women running back through the streets to tell the others, barely able to breathe. Love has been transformed and is transforming and will always be doing so. Jesus will always be love that transforms, living on in each of us from one generation to the next.
Today's music is sung by Singing Out, a Toronto-based choir, and the video features their Trans and Non-Binary Ensemble singing "We Shall Be Known," by Ma Muse, an American songwriting duo whose songs call us into the work of healing and promoting community. In these particular days, trans and non-binary people (see Day 31) might least expect a "Great Turning," as they struggle to be seen and known by others for who they are and to hold on to rights that have been hard-won. As politicians vilify them and reduce their basic rights in some parts of Canada, their optimism and activism are an example of resurrection hope.
On Easter, we celebrate the risen Jesus, who knows each of us by name and who sees us in the whole of our lives, from our birth to our death and beyond. While Easter seems like a time of release and liberation, resurrection work always holds the tension of challenges that need to be overcome amid the human obssession with empire and material gain. We are challenged not to think of Easter as "everything okay again," but as a new starting block for a renewed discipleship, one in which we are ready to take on the work of the kindom, refreshed in our hope.
Whether it is through the gift of song, of protest, of educating ourselves and others, the transformative love of Jesus compels us to action. We can and will change the world, one small but profound loving act at a time. May it be so.
Blessed Easter! He is Risen! May God's peace stay with us into the days of Eastertide and beyond.
See you at Season of Creation!
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| Image by Giuseppe Milo |
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This marks the end of the LC† From Dust, Still Holy devotional for Lent and Holy Week. Thank you to all who followed here, wrote emails of support, posted to Facebook and upheld the ministry through sharing it with others. We are grateful! Special thanks to Rev. Dr. Allen Jorgenson and Rev. Victoria A. Featherston for their offering of original writing on certain days. As always, grateful thanks to the support team of Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson, who were invaluable especially in the conceptual development of this project and who helped keep it on track. Grateful to the Mission Committee of the Eastern Synod, and to Martin Luther University College for support of these devotions.
The artists that were featured: Stanley Spencer, Lorenzo Quinn, Jorge Cocco Santángelo, Laura Makabresku, Kudzanai-Violet Hwami, Ayana Otake, Calida Garcia Rawles, Alireza Karimi Moghaddam, Louise Bourgeois, Eudora Welty, Dee-Jay Monika Rumbolt, Kent Monkman, Frida Kahlo, Julie Shelton Smith, Henry Ossawa Tanner, Laura Makabresku again, Marc Chagall, Stanley Spencer again, James Tissot, Caravaggio, and He Qi.
Scripture passages are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition.
For those who may wish to pursue an imagined narrative of the events of Holy Week as told through the eyes of Mary Magdalene, this blog was created in 2009 by Deacon Sherry and then republished in 2020.
Palm Sunday.
Holy Monday.
Holy Tuesday.
Holy Wednesday.
Maundy Thursday.
Good Friday.
Holy Saturday.
Easter Sunday.
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LC† From Dust, Still Holy is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!