On Labor Day Weekend, we celebrate all things built and strengthened by America’s workers. Wanting inspiration from my favorite pastor, Max Lucado, I watched his sermon on U-Tube; the sermon was about Mary Magdalene on Easter morning. “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5)
Mary Magdalene was troubled by seven evil spirits before she met Jesus Christ. When Jesus spoke to her, those demons fled, and she could finally smile about her life. She was one of the first women to fully support Jesus in His ministry, and she remained close to Him even to the time of the cross. She helped Jesus’s mother to prepare His body for burial. Standing in the tomb on Easter morning, she felt alone for the first time since Jesus caused her demons to flee.
Seeing the tomb stone removed, she ran to Peter and John to tell them that Jesus was gone from the tomb. When they arrived at the opened tomb, they found two angels sitting where He had lain, one at His head and one at his feet. In the darkness of the tomb, she turned around to see Jesus in human form. He called her by her name, and she recognized Him. Mary responded with Rabboni. which means teacher, and Jesus told her not to touch Him because He had not been with His Father yet. Without hesitation, Mary hugged Jesus, and He let her do it.
Mary told the disciples what she had seen and heard; Jesus saw how she was marginalized and rejected by society in her younger years. He will come to us so that we will believe that despite the darkness, joy will come in the morning. Like Jesus spoke to Mary, calling her by her name, He will speak to us by our names that are engraved on the palms of His hands. He is very fond of us and will show us everlasting love.
Max stressed that none of us have ever lived an unloved day; God will always love us. Psalm 103: 8-13 states: “The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy. He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins, nor rewarded us according to our iniquities. For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.
We may endure weeping and the darkness in the evening, but joy will come in the morning. Let God love you and go to Him in prayer. Many Americans are waiting to celebrate a new administration in November; what we should be celebrating right now is the One who sits on His Heavenly throne. He is waiting to love you and to give you a hug. Let Him into your heart, and He will call you by name.
Anna Hartt
