O Mary, What Love Is This?

“Why are you weeping?” Jesus speaks to Mary Magdalene, a woman conjecture and gossip made a prostitute, not the truth of scripture.

Easter’s shining morn has broken. The tomb filled by death night before now stands vacant.

At first, Mary does not recognize Jesus.

Then she turns astonished for death cannot hold the power of God.

Some will say God changed. They will argue the Old Testament God of wrath was replaced with the New Testament God of mercy, grace and love. Perhaps, like Mary — like many in ancient Israel, like many of our contemporaries, like us — they do not recognize God.

Death cannot hold the power of God, and the power of God is love.

Yahweh God, the “I AM” God, God-in-Christ has always been the God of love, the kind of love that is not shallow infatuation or conditional acceptance, but love born of ultimate sacrifice and gift.

Love set heavens, planets and stars in their places.

Love breathed holy spirit (ruach) breath enlivening, animating dust become humanity.

Love reached beyond damning judgments against human behavior toward redemption and wholeness, reconciliation and life.

O Mary, Love has come into the world and will never leave.

Trust your heart, not your eyes, with this one. Stand and be astounded.

We will stand with you for we have stood before the tombs of loved ones. We have grieved great love lost. Now, we stand with you, hearing His voice, and are astonished at the depth of God’s love.

This is no time for weeping. It is time for hearts to sing:

            What wondrous love is this,

            O my soul, O my soul!

            What wondrous love is this, O my soul!

Looking forward,

Bob Guffey