Words for Worship

Ministry Today

No matter how often

we hear the story

of the passion,

every Palm Sunday

we are gripped

by the drama

of Jesus’ pain and crucifixion.

 

But the Bible accounts

of Christ’s suffering

points out

that many others

were also caught up

in that same drama,

not least those

who had been central

to Jesus’ life and ministry.

 

It is instructive then to ask –

how did they react

to these events?

 

And how did they feel

as partners

in the unfolding drama

of the passion?

 

Well, much of this

remains unknown,

but we can

perhaps

imagine.

 

We can indeed

place ourselves

within the drama:

in the market square,

in the Temple,

on the Via Dolorosa

or at the foot of the cross.

 

And so over this Lent

of 2010,

I want us,

in company

with churches across the UK,

to have the opportunity

to work ourselves

into the Easter characters

and action.

 

Moreover, I want us

to experience afresh

through their eyes,

the suffering and glory

that would change the world

forever.

 

And so, let us

meet some of those personalities

now

who were on the edge of Christ’s pain.

 

Luke 24.1-12

 

 

Anthem

 

Today - from the list

of people ‘on the edge of Christ pain’

we will consider

that most enigmatic character –

Mary Magdalene.

 

Let’s hear more

about her

in our next lesson.

 

John 20.10-18

 

HYMN……….

 

 

Now there is little doubt

that Mary Magdalene

always seems to be

on the edge of something.

 

For, she gets

really very few credits

in the New Testament accounts

and then

often

at the tail end of a story.

 

She is also a figure

shrouded in legend

and mystery;

some are as old as the hills

and some modern creations

to sell pulp fiction.

 

Many people,

including some of those

who have translated

scripture into English,

assume that Mary Magdalene

was a lady of easy virtue

or worse –

although there is no evidence

to suggest this.

 

Even more controversially,

there all sorts

of other postulations

about her relationship

with Christ –

all, once again,

without foundation.

 

Yet in converse

to these fantasies,

the Eastern Orthodox Church

has always maintained

that Mary lived

a virtuous life throughout.  

 

Indeed, in recent years,

some feminist writers

have claimed

that Mary Magdalene

went on

to become a major leader

in the early church.

 

 

So what can we be certain of

when we think of

that woman

on the edge of Christ’s pain called –

The Magdalene?

 

Well, we know that

the Lord

cured her of evil spirits

and most likely

she hailed

from the Galilean town

of Magdela.

 

She was at the crucifixion

and she reported

the facts of the resurrection

to the disciples

who did not believe her.

 

Finally, she stood alone

at the empty tomb

and was the first

to meet the risen Christ.

 

It is then

we reach the crucia

l and really the only thing

we truly need to recall

of Mary Magdalene’s story.

 

It is contained

in a precious few words.

 

It is there in that utterance

from the edge –

My Lord and my God.

 

No wonder then

that ‘who’s who’ of scripture –

the new bible dictionary –

concludes

from those words on –

her relationship with Jesus Christ –

what ever it was before –

continued on another dimension.

 

But maybe of more value today

is not to look

at Mary Magdalene

with our own eyes.

 

Instead it is to look

at Jesus

through the eyes of Mary –

to look also at Mary

from the edge of Christ’s pain

and to look

at the world they saw together

from the edge

of their joyful reunion.

 

For when they first met,

what did Jesus see?  

 

Well on Tuesday

I was in town

going the dentist.

 

And on my way home,

I saw a woman in Reform Street

dressed in a trench coat

and tammie

talking loudly to herself

and everyone

who passed

in what appeared

to be German.

 

Needless to say

we all avoided her

as if she was canvassing

for a political party.

 

Jesus too

must have seen

something similar

when he first saw

the Magdalene.

 

He must have seen

a woman deeply troubled

by what

we would probably classify today

as a psychiatric disorder.

 

Yet he saw more

through the suffering.

 

For, unlike others,

he saw too a beautiful butterfly

of the human spirit

trapped in a chrysalis of illness

and possible other bindings

as well.

 

In a word, he saw himself

on the edge of her pain

and wanting to look in.

 

As a result,

he did not shy away –

he did fear her pain –

instead he cured it.

 

No wonder then

she was distraught

at his death

and overjoyed

at his resurrection.

 

Because, when she looked

at Christ

for first time

she saw someone

proclaiming

the coming of the Kingdom of God.

 

Well,

she may have thought –

I have heard that one before.

 

But then she

had actual proof of it –

for she was cured.  

 

And in return,

what did she see herself do?

 

She saw herself

responding in faith.

She saw herself

compelled to follow.  

 

And literally following Jesus –

she did!

 

Since by that,

I mean she didn’t just follow

his instructions

or follow his practices

or even follow

his demeanour.

 

I mean she actually

committed herself

to physically going

where he was going –

to dogging his footsteps –

to going

where he chose to go.

 

And, in truth,

that meant going

to the edge of pain

and doing his will

through it.

 

Perhaps then

the best lesson

for us today

is to try out

that type of following;

 

To see ourselves

following Christ like Mary;

To see ourselves

going to the edge of things

through faith.

 

And that means

thinking less about

what Christ is asking us to do,

considering less

what Christ would have done

and agonising less

on what is Christian

and what is not.

 

Instead,

let us just follow –

let Jesus push us

into the right path –

let Jesus lead us

through pain to life  

and let Jesus

bring us to the edge

of an essential different relationship

with him.

 

For, that is the dimension

of faith alone

that simply says

‘My Lord and my God’

and then goes with him.

 

And what did Christ

and Mary ultimately see

together –

what was the new vista

from the edge

of their individual

and mutual pain?  

 

Why - it was indeed

the arrival

of the very Kingdom of God.

 

Now this for them

was fundamentally

not a nirvana of  humanity in harmony–

it was not

some reformed  economy and society  

and it was not even

a perception of perfection

in the life to come.

 

No - it was far more

down to earth.

 

For, crucially, it saw

Mary transformed

by their new relationship

to the very fibre of her being.

 

Transformed indeed

in a way that is

beyond imagining.

 

Reformed that is

in truth

beyond imagining

but not beyond a story.

 

For there is as an old tale

of an even older violin

told in poetic form:

 

 

T’was battered and scarred, and the auctioneer,
Thought it scarcely worth his while.
To waste much time on the old violin,
But held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good folks," he cried,
"Who will start bidding for me:
A pound, a pound" --then, "Two!"  "Only two?
Two pounds, and who'll make it three?
Three pounds once; three pounds, twice;
Going for three--"  But no,
From the room, far back, a gray-haired man,
Came forward and picked up the bow;
Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,
And tightening the loose strings,
He played a melody pure and sweet.
As sweet as a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said, "What am I bid for the old violin?"
And he held it up with the bow.
"A thousand pounds, and who'll make it two?
Two thousand?  And who'll make it three?
And going, and gone!" said he.
The people cheered, but some of them cried,
"We do not quite understand.
What changed it's worth?"  Swift came the reply:
"T’was The touch of the master's hand."

And many a man with life out of tune,
And battered and scattered with sin,
Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,
Much like the old violin.
A "mess of pottage," a glass of wine;
A game---and he travels on.
He's "going" once, and "going" twice,
He's "going" and almost "gone."
But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd,
Never can quite understand.
 

Let us pray

 

Loving God

We are good because you love us

Thank you for your gift of unconditional loving

We have been touched by your Spirit

That grounds us in your cross and passion

Renew us with your power

Enfold us in your presence

And bring us finally to see your face.

 

Amen

 

Offering

 

HYMN

 

Mary Magdalene