Friday, March 23, 2012

Mary Magdalene...A Lenten Meditation

IT'S NO WONDER





It’s no wonder

Mary of Magdala

traveled with Rabboni

and the twelve

and helped

support His mission

She was a woman on fire

with love and gratitude

a woman freed

of seven snarling demons



It’s no wonder

despite trepidation

she watched at a distance

as they nailed her Great One

to a wretched cross

cupping her ears, wailing

at each resonating hammerfall

No wonder

she drew near

as He hung

in the agony of dying

for being there

was better

than not being there



Mary, bereft

looked upon her Rabboni

as they took Him

from the beams

laid His powerless Body

in the tomb

and rolled a great round stone

across the entrance

separating Him from her

before the sun went down

that Good and terrible Friday



and it’s no wonder

she was back at dawn

the morning after Sabbath

with other ministering women

carrying spices

heedless of whom

would roll the stone away

But the tomb was open

and the women trembled

as an angel astounded them

with talk of rising



Bewildered

Mary ran to the apostles

but it’s no wonder

she returned

to grieve near the tomb,

wanting to be

where last He was



A stranger, the gardener?

inquired of her weeping

"Sir," she implored

"if you have carried Him away

tell me where you have put Him

and I will get Him"



"Mary…"



"Rabboni!"



Astonished, she reflexively

reached for Him…

"Do not cling to Me"

He told her

"for I have not yet ascended

to My Father"



Oh, it’s no wonder

it was she He entrusted

to bring the news

to the brethren

No wonder

she ran, stumbling over rocks

and potsherd

dashing through brush

and brambles

raising tufts of dust

eager to exclaim

breathless with jubilation

"I have seen

the Lord!"



Maude Carolan Pych



CONGRATULATIONS, BARBARA!

I am pleased to announce that my friend, Barbara Williams-Hubbard, won a Judges Choice award at the 13th annual St. Catherine of Bologna Patron of the Arts Association Photo, Art & Poetry Exhibition, held last weekend in Ringwood, NJ. The poem is entitled, "Garden Walk". Some of Barbara's poems have appeared in the newsletter, "It's all about...The Lamb".


2 comments:

  1. Maude, I really value your Lenten meditations. I hold them for a moment when I'll be able to truly savor them as I read. Here, your "for being there was better than not being there" is so powerful. Thank you for helping to deepen my Lenten experience this year.

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  2. Thanks, Susi, for taking the time to leave a comment. I always like to know what touches people deeply in the poems. May you and your husband have a glorious Resurrection Day. With love, Maude

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