Holy Wisdom Church
Christ is Risen [Truly Risen] [3 times] Mothers’ Day
What does God’s love look like?
What does love look like? I don’t think anyone has attempted to paint an icon
and label it: God’s love. So, we won’t find it there. In this morning’s epistle
reading, St. John tells us that: “God is love and those who live in love live
in union with God and God lives in union with them.” [1Jn4:16] We are being called
to live in union with God which also means living in God’s love. It is not
unusual for a spiritual director to lead us toward that experience of being in
God’s love. God is love. God is not doing love but being love. Sometimes the
Trinity icon can help us grasp this. Although it is not labeled “God’s love” it
is often referred to as the personified vision of God’s love. The three figures,
understood to be the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are not in competition with
each other but in perfect harmony.
The
Myrrhbearing women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus. No one gave
them instructions to do this. No one told them when to go or what spices to
purchase or how to prepare them. Afterall, the disciples had all fled. The
Myrrhbearing women and St John were at the cross but it was the women alone who
set out for the tomb. They were doing what was expected in that culture and
society at that time. But even more, they were acting out of love for Jesus,
their teacher who was now lying in the tomb. Their rabbi did more than teach,
he exhibited God’s love and radiated it into the world. All who came into
contact with him, were, in a real sense, entering into God’s love.
St Mark’s
gospel is understood by many to end with the passage we heard today. Some
manuscripts add to that ending, but the women fleeing in fear and telling no
one what they saw, is considered the oldest rendition. This is a very human
reaction to a shocking and unexpected experience. We also know from the witness
of the church and the other gospels that their fear was turned to joy when they
experienced the risen Lord. St. Peter and the Myrrhbearing women are both
examples of Jesus most passionate followers and supporters and yet they flee. Experiencing
the risen Lord revives them and their faith to such an extent that they take the
message of this Good News to the ends of the earth and many of them die for it.
Jesus’ appearances brought light and life to those who encountered him. And
they carried that light to others.
A couple of
days after Pascha I visited our Brother John at the Bennington Vermont Rehabilitation
Center. I had my dog Kahn with me. We went through Br John’s mail and I gave
him an update on community news and the puppy kennel. He talked about the most
recent efforts by his doctors to deal with his latest health issues. He has
suffered so much, and his pain is unrelenting and it inevitably turns his mind
to decisions he faces about his future. Then I asked him about visitors and he
began to talk about the many people who came to see him on Pascha. His face lit
up, he became animated, and he took great delight in recalling who had come
that day and what they had talked about and the gifts that some had brought. It
was the old Brother John. He was like the desert father story of Abba Lot
visiting Abba Joseph. Abba Lot described his life of prayer and asked what else
he could do and Abba Joseph stood up and stretched out his hands towards heaven.
His fingers became like ten lamps of fire and he said, “If you will, you can
become all flame.” Brother John had become all flame. The love that had visited
him that Pascha burst forth from him like fire. That is what love looks like!
Christ is risen!
