First Day of the Week

’Twas early on the first day of the week that Mary Magdalene set out in gloom; The prospects for the morn were rather bleak, anoint her master's body in the tomb. While she was yet far off, she saw the stone that recent had been rolled or somehow shoved; She turned and ran to those He called his own, found Simon and the one whom Jesus loved. Then gasping, weeping, tired, and out of breath, "Someone has moved the body of our Lord!" Interred in haste before a Sabbath rest, His plot was one that they could ill afford. So Peter and the other feared the worst; what started as a run became a race. The one that Jesus loved arrived there first; he saw the cloth, but not how it was spaced. But Simon, drawing near, went in instead; there lay the linens for the body, face. The one that had been on his Master's head was neatly folded in a separate place. The other entered, saw with his own eyes, believing now the things his Lord foretold, But still did not connect his Master's rise to Scripture's messianic claims of old. The tomb observed in keeping with the law,  they missed what happened next, for they went home. But Mary, standing there, still grieved and sobbed, and as she cried, she ducked into the tomb. And there she saw two angels dressed in white atop the place where Jesus once had lain. They said, "Why do you weep?” and she replied, "I cannot find my Lord!" from depths of pain. Then turning round, she saw but knew him not; He said to her, "Who is the one you seek?" "Give him to me, I'll find another spot,"  for she supposed he was the garden keep. And then a simple "Mary" from the Lamb; "Rabboni!" all she managed in her awe. "Go find my brothers, say to them 'I am ascending to our Father and our God.'" Then Mary went and sought the brothers out, exclaimed, "I've seen the risen Lord today!" Then eagerly the brothers huddled ‘round and she repeated what He'd had to say. And on the eve that first day of the week, the brothers gathered, locked the doors in fear. Then he appeared, but offered no critique; He simply said, "Now peace be with you here." He let them place their fingers on his side and also let them see his hands and feet. Their joy complete at palpable glad tide, again, "Peace be with you," he did repeat. "As God, our Father first did send the Son, so you I also send into the world. Receive the Holy Spirit,” said the One, and breathing out, the Spirit round them swirled. "I grant you now the power to forgive, and this is not a thing to be compelled. For a forgiving life’s the way to live, but if not given freely, it's withheld." When Peter and the others saw the Lord, young Didymus was absent and aggrieved. He said, "Unless my fingers have explored his hands, his feet, his side, I won't believe." A week then passed till once again they flocked; this time the doubting Thomas did appear.  Then Christ arrived, through doors securely locked, told Thomas, "Put your fingers here and here." "My Lord, My God!" all doubt had been replaced, for seeing, he believed what he had heard. "Blessed are the ones who have not seen my face, yet come to faith through hearing of the Word.” (from John 20)