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5. – The Witnessing

Questions to Begin

 What leader has made you want to follow in his or her footsteps?  Remember a time when you have been the bearer of good news to someone. What was that experience like for you?

The Reading: Lk 8:1-3; Mt 27:55-61; 28:1-10; Jn 20:1-18

Lk 8:1-3 The Female Disciples of

8Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and , and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.

Mt 27:55-61 Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ and Burial

55 Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and , and the mother of the sons of .

57 When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb.

Mt 28:1-10 Mary Magdalene and the Other Women Meet the Risen Lord

28After the sabbath, as the first day of the week was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2And suddenly there was a great earthquake; for an of , descending from heaven, came and rolled back the stone and sat on it. 3His appearance was like lightning, and his clothing white as snow. 4For fear of him the guards shook and became like dead men. 5But the angel said to the women, ‘Do not be afraid; I know that you are looking 2 for Jesus who was crucified. 6He is not here; for he has been raised, as he said. Come, see the place where he lay. 7Then go quickly and tell his disciples, “He has been raised from the dead, and indeed he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him.” This is my message for you.’ 8So they left the tomb quickly with fear and great joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9Suddenly Jesus met them and said, ‘Greetings!’ and they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshipped him. 10Then Jesus said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.’

Jn 20:1-18 Mary Magdalene Becomes the to the

20Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. 2So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.’ 3Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went towards the tomb. 4The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. 5He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. 6Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, 7and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. 8Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; 9for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. 10Then the disciples returned to their homes.

11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12and she saw two in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. 13They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ 14When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.’ 16Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew,* ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). 17Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ 18Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

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First Impression

After reading the passages, is there anything that surprised, impressed or challenged you?

Questions for Personal Reflection

 Name as many similarities as you can find between the account in Matthew’s and that in John’s.

 Compare the response of Mary Magdalene at Jesus’ tomb to that of Peter and the beloved disciple. What is the most significant difference?

 Why do you think Mary did not recognise the risen Jesus at first? Why did his calling her name have such an effect on her?

 After Mary Magdalene was healed by Jesus of her seven demons, her whole life changed. What do you imagine was the most dramatic aspect of that change?

 After Mary Magdalene recognised the risen , he told her not to “hold on” to him (Jn 20:17). Compare Mary’s desire to hold on to Jesus with your own desire to hold on to those you love.

Focus Question

 How could Mary Magdalene be a model of discipleship for you? What aspects of her discipleship would you like to imitate?

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Prayer

You may wish to pray the following or create one of your own.

As our saviour, Jesus heals our infirmities, releases us from bondage, and restores us to new life. Let us call upon his saving power:

For all those in need of Christ’s healing…. Unbind them, Lord, and let them go free.

For all those in need of Christ’s release from bondage or oppression…. Unbind them, Lord, and let them go free.

For all those who have died, that they may experience new life in Christ forever…. Unbind them, Lord, and let them go free.

Add your own intentions…..

Lord Jesus, you are our healer, and saviour. Help your people in their needs, and come to our aid with your liberating grace. Amen.