The Gardener of Easter Morning
Dear Reader, I wrote a series of Easter reflections for residents in Senior Living where I am honored to serve as a chaplain. I am sharing one of my favorite reflections from that series. My hope is that you will catch a glimpse of the Lord’s tender care for you through these words.
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The early morning light shone upon her face still broken in grief and sorrow. The birds sang to her in the branches, but her heart was not ready to face a new day without her Lord. She was not the only one awake this early on the third day. A Gardener tended flowers from seeds sown long ago, and He drew near to comfort her heart. Sir, if You have taken away my Lord, please tell me where you brought Him. The Gardener listened to her cries then did what He always does for those who abide in His vine. He called her - by name. And she knew. It was Him. The One she loved was alive and there was no mistaking it. She knew His voice and He knew everything about her and loved her still. He would ascend to their Father and loved her too much to be apart from her forever. He would prepare a place more lovely than the garden area still glistening with the morning dew that rested upon the Rose of Sharon and Lily of the Valley.
“Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying. “Dear woman, why are you crying?” the angels asked her.
“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”
She turned to leave and saw someone standing there. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize him. 15“Dear woman, why are you crying?” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”
She thought he was THE GARDENER. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and get him.”
“Mary!” Jesus said.
She turned to him and cried out, “Rabboni!” (which is Hebrew for “Teacher”).
“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “I have seen the Lord!” Then she gave them his message.”