Worship

Easter Reading
John 20: 1-4; 11-18

Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away, so she ran off to Simon Peter and the other disciple (the one that Jesus loved) and told them, “The Lord has been taken from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him!” At that, Peter and the other disciple started out on their way toward the tomb.

Meanwhile, Mary stood weeping beside the tomb. Even as she wept, she stopped to peer inside, and there she saw two angels in dazzling robes. One was seated at the head and the other at the foot of the place where Jesus’ body had lain.

“Woman,” they asked her, “why are you weeping?” She answered them, “Because the Lord has been taken away, and I do not know where they have put him.” She had no sooner said this than she turned around and caught sight of Jesus standing there. But she did not know him. “Woman,” he asked her, “why are you weeping? Who is it you are looking for?” She supposed he was the gardener, so she said, “Sir, if you are the one who carried him off, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned to him and said [in Hebrew], “Rabbouni!” (meaning “Teacher”). Jesus then said: “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Rather, go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God!’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples. “I have seen the Lord!” she announced. Then she reported what he had said to her.