Day 1 – John 20: 11-18 and Mark 16: 1-8
When asked to write a reflection for 50 Days and found that the theme was ‘a life of mission’, I thought I needed to find out a bit more about mission and was struck by the definition, which was given as “an important assignment given to a person or group of people”.
Our two readings today share the same story but with two different outcomes.
In John’s gospel we read that Mary was give a very important assignment, to take a message to the disciples. This was such an important task – she was the first to see the risen Lord. With no apparent hesitation she fulfilled her task of going to the disciples with the Good News.
In Mark’s’ gospel we read the same story of the women going to the tomb but their reaction was very different and we are told that the women fled and they said nothing to anyone as they were afraid.
This is such an important lesson for us to learn. We have an important assignment. We can be like the women in Mark’s gospel, keeping the news to ourselves because we are afraid to speak out and to share the Good News or we can be like Mary, going to tell what she had heard and seen.
Our life of mission may not seem as clear-cut as Mary’s, but we need to listen to God and respond to his call. We may have obstacles to overcome, we may not know what we will find or where we need to go but our message is the same today as it was on that first Easter Sunday – Christ the Lord is risen today! Alleluia!
What a wonderful message, what a wonderful challenge, what a wonderful opportunity, Jesus said ‘tell them I have risen’ – our calling.
Let’s pray: Risen Christ be our guide, as we learn to discern your mission for us. Help us to be ready & willing to go and share the Good News of that first Easter.
By Sue Aspden
Lindisfarne Circuit
Local Preacher On Note