The Seasons: A Poem

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Sunrise over Amazing Grasses Family Farm The mad Artist wields His brush, Painted colors rush, To life and give flush, Before the quiet autumn hush. The life seems to pour, As colors fall to the floor, To be seen no more, Outside the dark, grey door. Brightness from below, Sun upon the snow, High, cold clouds blow, Flakes and ice appear to grow. The man melts with little seen, Underneath, pale, grey green, Hides life in dark unseen, Waits for warmth and to careen. Buds on branches show, Patience starts to grow, Trickles, streams and veins flow, Bringing fruits of melted snow. Sprung to life it springs, Bees, birds, sound rings, Lush green flings, Its gift bounty brings. Green growth gives one last rush, Underneath the Painter's brush. The mad Artist wields His brush, before the quiet autumn hush. More poetry is available from James M. Hahn in  The Last Dragon and Other Poems  available now. My new book of cryptogram puzzles " Secret Messages from the Saints " is avai
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Why are you weeping?

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Mary Magdalene standing by the tomb with Jesus unseen by her behind her
John 20:11-18

I often try to read passages in Scripture as though I'm reading them for the first time.  Too often my mind is filled with the things I already know and so I skip over the words, skimming more than reading.  As I read today's Gospel I found myself doing that once again.   Yeah, yeah, Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb, doesn't recognize Jesus, mistakes Him for the gardener, etc., read it all before.

When I found that I was doing this I went back and read it slowly a couple of times.  I saw things that I'd never seen before.  Like Mary, my eyes were opened to the truth I had been blind to up to that point.

Mary had been with Jesus for some time.  She had a deep devotion to our Lord.  Scholars may argue about whether this Mary was the same one who poured out the precious nard or who had demons driven from her.  We aren't told for sure but the actions speak louder than words.

If it was she who had the demons driven out we can certainly understand her wiping the feet of the master with her tears; tears of repentance, joy, peace, and love.  If it was she who loved so much after having been forgiven so much, we can certainly understand her taking the costly perfume and emptying out every last drop for the Lord who would soon empty every last drop of His blood out for her and us.  This devotion and self-giving of Mary Magdalene did not stop short of the cross, fear of death did not deter her from being close to the Lord of Life, even on Calvary.

Even after His death and before she understood the Resurrection, she longed to be close to Him.  She came to the tomb while it was still dark on the third day to be by her crucified Lord.  Seeing that the stone had been moved and no guards present she assumed the body had been stolen and ran to tell Peter.  Today we are told she returns again to the empty tomb weeping.  Not only is she weeping because Jesus has been crucified but now His body is missing, stolen sometime during the night!

Blinded by grief, suffering her own agony in this garden of tombs, she pays little attention to the angels sitting in the tomb of the Risen Lord.  They ask her, "Why are you weeping?".  This wasn't a question about her grief, it was a question about her faith.  She gives her child-like answer, "they have taken away my Lord, and I do no know where they have laid him."

Turning to leave the tomb she sees the silhouette of a man against the bright morning sky.  The Voice asks, "Woman, why are you weeping?  Whom do you seek?"  Her eyes are blurred with tears, the voices of the angry crowd still echo in her ears and she doesn't recognize the Lord.  What is it that brings her out of her pain and misery?  What is it that makes that moment the pivotal moment of her life?  The Lord simply, softly, lovingly speaks her name, "Mary."

With that, this woman with great love embraces Jesus with the intention of never letting Him out of her sight again.  She clings to Him with all of her being.  Her heart sings, her tears flow, joy unbounded explodes in the most passionate heart of this woman bound to Jesus by the unbreakable bonds of love.  He assures her that He will be around for some time, that He hasn't yet gone to the Father.  He begs her to loosen her grip, have faith, and believe.

Today the Lord asks us, "Why are you weeping?"  Tell him!  Lord, I am weeping over Ukraine.  Lord, I am weeping over my family and their loss of faith.  Lord, I am weeping because my child is an addict.  Lord, I am weeping because my marriage is falling apart.  Lord, I am weeping because I have no money and no job.  Lord, I am weeping because....  Tell Him!  Weep, then listen.  Listen for His word, listen for Him to speak your name.  He will.  Trust.

Jesus wants us to have faith.  However, the gift of faith comes through opportunities to practice faith, to step out in faith.  Let us have the faith and probably more importantly, the perseverance of Mary Magdalene who would not allow even death to separate her from the Lord.  Let us never stop seeking Him even in the midst of the tombs and tears of our lives.  He will be there if we only have the eyes to see.

My new book of cryptogram puzzles "Secret Messages from the Saints" is available now.
  
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