Advent Part 25: Mary loses Jesus again (to the ascension).
Acts 1:12-26 (NLT)
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, a distance of half a mile. 13 When they arrived, they went to the upstairs room of the house where they were staying.
Here are the names of those who were present: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James (son of Alphaeus), Simon (the zealot), and Judas (son of James). 14 They all met together and were constantly united in prayer, along with Mary the mother of Jesus, several other women, and the brothers of Jesus.
15 During this time, when about 120 believers were together in one place, Peter stood up and addressed them. 16 “Brothers,” he said, “the Scriptures had to be fulfilled concerning Judas, who guided those who arrested Jesus. This was predicted long ago by the Holy Spirit, speaking through King David. 17 Judas was one of us and shared in the ministry with us.”
18 (Judas had bought a field with the money he received for his treachery. Falling headfirst there, his body split open, spilling out all his intestines. 19 The news of his death spread to all the people of Jerusalem, and they gave the place the Aramaic name Akeldama, which means “Field of Blood.”)
20 Peter continued, “This was written in the book of Psalms, where it says, ‘Let his home become desolate, with no one living in it.’ It also says, ‘Let someone else take his position.’
21 “So now we must choose a replacement for Judas from among the men who were with us the entire time we were traveling with the Lord Jesus— 22 from the time he was baptized by John until the day he was taken from us. Whoever is chosen will join us as a witness of Jesus’ resurrection.”
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they all prayed, “O Lord, you know every heart. Show us which of these men you have chosen 25 as an apostle to replace Judas in this ministry, for he has deserted us and gone where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots, and Matthias was selected to become an apostle with the other eleven.
Dear God,
It is a little vague to me whether or not Mary, the mother of Jesus, was with Mary Magdalene at the tomb after the resurrection, but it is clear that she is with the apostles now. And her sons are there too. They are in the fold. Believers. They are ready to acknowledge that their brother was unique. They were wrong to have tried to get him out of that house. I wonder if Mary’s sister was there too. So many questions.
This is our last reference to Mary in the New Testament, but I think we can assume she was with them just a little while later for Pentecost, and she was part of the church. After all, John was responsible for her now (although I would imagine Jesus’s brothers were more on board with taking care of her now too).
So sometime between the desperate sorrow and loss of the Crucifixion and this moment, she found out he was alive again. I am sorry, I didn’t do that justice: HE WAS ALIVE AGAIN!! What an amazing moment that must have been. Her life went from feeling invalidated to validated. You affirmed everything good she believed about him and erased everything she doubted.
And before I leave Mary, I want to sit with the idea of her sadness at having him leave again. Even though it was in glory through the Ascension, at least for the moment, she lost him again. Patty Griffin captures it well through her song “Mary.” She will see him again, but it must have been heartbreaking for her. Why couldn’t he stay? Maybe just a little longer?
Father, there are things for which I pray every day that I have faith you will grant. Some are prayers for my children. And while I may live to see them come about, maybe I will not. That is okay. It is about your timing and not my ego. It is about your plan being made perfect and not my agenda. So I give this to you, and if I am not around to see the “morning,” so be it.
I pray this in Jesus and with your Holy Spirit,
Amen
