Daily Worship

The Gardener God

Neil MacLennan April 23, 2014 0 0

John 20:10-18

Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. 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, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realise that it was Jesus.

“Woman,” he said, “why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”
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, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

I was looking for a man.
I looked where he last was, but I couldn’t see him.
I didn’t know where to look next.
I was at the end of the road.

But I knew he must be somewhere.
I must keep looking.
Does anyone else know where He is?
What about you? Or you?

…or You?

Why are you all asking me the same question?
Why do you think I’m crying? I’m upset.
Look, I’m looking for my Lord.
I want to save Him.

You! Gardener! You must have seen something.
Did you see anyone take Him away?
Did you take Him away?
I’ll not be angry, just tell me where He is.

For all my looking, I never saw two angels.
For all my looking, I never saw the folded graveclothes
For all my looking, I never saw my Lord

WHY CAN’T I SEE WHAT’S IN FRONT OF ME!

It’s not that I was lost, but that I was found
It’s not that I was looking, but that I was being sought
It’s not that I said His name, but that He said mine
Mary. Jim. Laura. Andrew. Karen. Robert…

Father, you speak my name.
Let me take a moment to hear it in my mind.
.
.
.
Let me now see you wherever I look
Let me see you in the wonder of creation
Let me see you in the face of the poor, the naked and the hungry
Let me see you in the meditations of my heart, the attitude of my mind and the work of my hands.

Amen.

 

by Neil MacLennan