Monday • 4/13/2020 and 4/18/2022

This morning’s Scriptures are: Psalm 93; Psalm 98; Exodus 12:14-27; 1 Corinthians 15:1-11; Mark 16:1-8

This morning’s Canticles are: following the OT reading, Pascha Nostrum (“Christ Our Passover,” BCP, p. 83); following the Epistle reading, Canticle 19 (“The Song of the Redeemed,” Revelation 15:3–4, BCP, p. 94)

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Monday in Easter Week

So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. — Mark 16:1-8. Today’s gospel reading is the so-called “Shorter Ending” of Mark’s Gospel. Most versions of the Bible include a note indicating that verses 9-20 do not appear in our oldest and best manuscripts. They appear to have been added by the later church because people felt that something was missing.

An original ending to Mark’s gospel, describing Jesus meeting his disciples in Galilee and giving them the Great Commission (as in Matthew), telling them then to wait in Jerusalem for the Holy Spirit (as in Luke), or actually breathing God’s Spirit into them (as in John), may indeed have accidentally been lost.

Or, as a minority of scholars (and I with them) wonder, perhaps Mark knew that his readers knew “the rest of the story” (apologies to Paul Harvey), but also reckoned that they were going to have to find confidence to live “the rest of the story” in dangerous times. After all, Jesus had taught all along that even though he was going to rise from the dead, those who were willing to follow him were going to have to take up their cross, be baptized with a baptism in the likeness of his death, and drink their share of his cup of suffering (Mark 8:31-35; 10:32-40).

It’s possible Mark ended his gospel this way on purpose to remind readers of their need to decide if they are willing to pay the price of following the resurrected Christ. And, of course, it’s still also possible that it is sheer providence that this is the oldest ending we have, and that the original ending is lost to us. Either way, we are left to decide whether we are going to overcome our own fears and metaphorically meet Jesus “in Galilee,” and receive our own commission to minister in his Name and by the power of his Spirit.

…when he sees the blood on the lintel and on the two doorposts, the Lord will pass over that door and will not allow the destroyer to enter your houses to strike you down. — Exodus 12:23.

Mark leaves us with sobering thoughts on an Easter Monday. Hunkering down in homes protected from the angel of death only by blood smeared above and to the sides of the door—that was sobering, too. As was sharing a meal in preparation for a dangerous journey of deliverance.

Living in dangerous times ourselves—whether because of the current health crisis, and the attending economic rivalries and racial divides it is unmasking; whether because of the acrimonious political climate of our own country and the violent clashes in hot spots around the world—it is good for us to be reminded of the singular message of hope we bring, at whatever cost, to such a world in such times.

For I handed on to you as of first importance… — 1 Corinthians 15:3. That’s what Paul reminds us of in today’s epistle. This is good news that he says is “of first importance”: Christ died for our sins, and did so according to Scripture. That he was buried (that is, he was genuinely dead), only to be raised from the dead on the third day—again, just as Scripture had promised. That his return from the dead was testified to both by a large number of faithful followers, and by at least one skeptic (his brother James) and by one hardened denier (Paul himself).

In the face of anything that conspires to replace your confidence with fear, and your faith with despair, I pray the Lord gives you fresh courage this Easter for your journey to meet him “in Galilee” this side of his empty tomb.

Be blessed this day,

Reggie Kidd+