Encountering the Other

What's in a name? (Part 2)

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” 14 At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”). 

John 20: 11-16

(For further reflections on this passage click here)

When was the last time you introduced yourself to someone? I find how I introduce myself varies according to where I am. The first thing I say is my name and then often I answer the question of 'What do you do for a living?' and that's where it gets a little complex. Sometimes I'm a Worship Leader (or if I want to confuse people a Contemplative Worship Leader). Other times I'm a Spiritual Director, a Musician, a Gamer, or even a Composer. The choice is determined by some judgments I make about how I think the other person will react. The common thread to all these titles is that they are all expressions of functions I perform, they describe some of what I do.

There are other words I use to describe myself. Some I have embraced, and others that I have allowed to get written as graffiti across my heart. Some of them have been carved so deeply in place that I rarely question their validity. I'm not going to list them because I don't want people telling me how they are wrong (or even worse how they are right!).

Mary Magdalene was definitely someone with a past. A lot of labels have been placed on her through the centuries. All we really know for certain is that Jesus cast 7 demons out of her. Pope Gregory in 591 C.E. first suggested she was a prostitute, a claim that has been restated in many movies and books, but we cannot say that with any certainty.

I love that Jesus simply calls her by name. She is not what she does. She is not what others have called her. She is not what she fears she might be. She is Mary. Everything else is secondary.

I've imagined that God says some pretty harsh things about me over the years. Most of which I've come to see are more about other people's efforts to control, vilify, or avoid their own fears than anything within me. God's love does not graffiti our hearts with hate.

Jesus simply calls each of us by name. Not by title, label or fear. Not by action or regret. Not by addiction or achievement. If we allow ourselves to hear his call and have the audacity to receive his love then, slowly, the graffiti will be washed away.

Listen to God call your name.

What's in a name?

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”

At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

 

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

 

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

 

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

 

 Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead 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 with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her. ~ John 20:11-18

  

Mary arrives at the tomb emotionally and physically exhausted. She has arrived expecting to see the dead body of someone she loves, instead she is convinced that someone has stolen his corpse. Even with Jesus standing in front of her she is not open to his presence because it does not fit with what she is looking for.

When God does something totally out of the box (out of the tomb?) I'm good at missing it too. There He is standing in front of me, but because he doesn't like like I imagine him too, I ignore him. I have my own set of filters for how God behaves. When God does something that doesn't fit within my 'spiritually approved prejudices' I am quick to discount it.

  

It takes Jesus speaking her name before Mary realizes who is talking to her.

I find her response of 'Rabboni' interesting. How we address people is indicative of how we perceive our relationship to them. I'm curious why Mary's instant response is to turn and shout Teacher, why did she not say Jesus?

There are many possible words that I use to address Jesus. Savior, Friend, Brother, Lord, Healer, Teacher, Lover, Creator. Some labels I use more than others. When I read this passage this morning the word that came to mind was Judge.

I don't like that.

In the back of my mind I apparently still imagine Jesus watching and judging every action and thought. It's a great way to feel guilty all the time. Somehow in my youth I falsely learned that a good christian should feel permanently guilty. I've done a lot of dismantling of that false teaching over the years, but having the word Judge come unbidden to my mind while I meditated on this passage today shows that I still have work to do.

What unexpected people have called you by name this week? 

How is Jesus in that person and encounter?

 

What words and names do you use to address Jesus? 


What do they reveal about your relationship? 

No-Bake Energy Bites

Great for road trips or energy on a hike!

No-Bake Energy Bites 

Originally posted at gimmiesomeoven.com

Ingredients:

• 1 cup (dry) oatmeal (I used old-fashioned oats)
• 1 cup toasted coconut flakes
• 1/2 cup chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup ground flaxseed
• 1/3 cup honey
• 1 tsp. vanilla

Method:

Stir all ingredients together in a medium bowl until thoroughly mixed. Let chill in the refrigerator for half an hour. Once chilled, roll into balls of whatever size you would like. I use a 2 tablespoon measure. Store in an airtight container and keep refrigerated for up to 1 week.

Makes about 17 balls (if using a 2 tablespoon measure)

One ball: 162 Calories, 17g Carbs, 10g Fat, 4g protein

Substitution ideas can abound for just about any of these ingredients! Feel free to substitute in your favorite nut butter (almond butter, sunflower seed butter, etc.) for the peanut butter. And you could also add in some wheat germ in place of some or all of the flaxseed. I would caution, though, against substituting agave nectar for the honey, as the honey’s thickness helps hold things together.

Some other fun substitutions for the chocolate chips (or an addition to them) could include:

• chopped dried fruit (apricots, dates, raisins, etc.)
• dried berries (cranberries, cherries, etc.)
• chopped almonds, pecans, or sunflower seeds
• other chips (butterscotch, dark chocolate, milk chocolate, etc.)

The joy of these bites being “no bakes” is that this recipe is super flexible. If you end up needing to omit one of the dry ingredients (such as coconut or flax), just add in some extra of whatever other dry ingredient is remaining (for example, the oats). If you feel like your energy bites are too dry, just add in extra honey or peanut butter.