Tuesday, April 19, 2022

Telling the Story


Now after Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from

whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it. After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them. Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, “Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.” So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. Mark 16:9-20

Gracious Creator you are patient with us
letting us refuse to believe your works
unwilling to accept the resurrection
yet you love us through our disbelief.

Early in the morning the women went out
and found an empty tomb and angels
you appeared again and again to disciples
their grief to deep to take the miracle in.

You persisted and came to the twelve
bent in grief they were slow to accept it
you promised them power and protection
like them we are slow to take it all in.

Help us, dear Jesus, to believe your gift
you sacrificed all for us so we might live
let us live now with faith and compassion
believing in the power and gifts you give us. Amen.

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