Candice's Comments

My husband Bill has spent many hours in recent weeks, cleaning the flower beds at the church and parsonage. Much has built up over the winter: leaves, tree fragments, pine needles, and other debris.

One day I drove by him as he worked and asked, “Are you the gardener?” I was thinking of the Easter scripture of John 20:1-18 where Mary Magdalene does not recognize the risen Jesus. She thinks he is the gardener. Then he calls her name and she recognizes him.

Where do we not recognize Jesus is our lives? Is it the next door neighbor out painting her fence or the guy who holds the door for us at the convenience store or the child that smiles at us perched on the grocery cart seat? Where is Jesus and we don’t even realize it.

Mary didn’t expect to:

• be the first to witness the empty tomb and evidence of Christ’s resurrection;
• become the first evangelist – the one to call others to take note and believe;
• find Jesus standing next to her in that garden, speaking her name;
• or to be sent by Jesus, himself, to share the good news.

The message of Christ risen is one that invites us all to be witnesses like Mary. We are invited to listen to the voices around us…to look up in hopeful joy to recognize the risen one with us all along.

As we enter into this 50 day season of Easter, we will meet many witnesses who testify to the risen Christ. They will show us God’s new way to be in relationship with the world. Will our eyes be open to see? Will our ears be open to hear?  

Easter Blessings,

Pastor Candice