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".
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.
ReplyDeleteThanks, 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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