The Blessed Hope

Holy Monday - Four Days Before Jesus Died

Read: John 20:11-18

• What did you discover in today’s reading?

Mary went to mourn the dead; instead, she encountered our Lord and learned the reality of the Resurrection. 

In prayer one day, I was led to the nearby cemetery. There, I spent some time walking around in the sunlit graveyard, looking at the tombstones. I carefully toured around the entire place. Another visitor asked if I needed help finding someone. No, I am walking around them all. The Lord sent me here. 

I saw a tombstone of someone who had lived 99 years. I saw one of 72 years and another of 19 years. I saw one of two years and one of two days. I saw my own granddaughter’s grave – she was born dead.

The words echoed in my mind: Can these live? Is it possible? Then I knew I was to prophesy – to call out the reality of the Resurrection. I called out the names of the ones I knew. I could imagine the trumpet sound. But my words seemed to vanish in the summer breeze. Or did they?

Wasn’t my cry a prophecy? My words no more vanished than these souls have vanished. They have not disappeared; they are at rest, invisible to our mortal eyes.

These will live! Indeed, they will be raised up at the last day, at the trumpet call of God.

Mary had lost hope. Dirt and tombstones make death seem so real and God’s power seem so distant. But at any turn, we can hear the voice of Jesus. Is it possible for this mortal body to take on immortality? Yes, the Resurrection proves it!

Pray: Dear Lord, renew my hope today – the hope of being united with you in the Resurrection at the last day. Fill my heart with hope for each day – knowing all things are possible with you. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Do: What seemingly impossible situation burdens your thoughts today? Write the following words on a piece of paper and hang it on your refrigerator: God can raise the dead to life; all things are possible!

• What is a seemingly impossible situation in your life today?