main point
I see the main point to be, in Dylan Thomas' words, death shall have no dominion*.
new light
So much here to consider ... that Mary didn't expect Jesus to be resurrected and that to keep his remains company was the most she could hope for ...that she didn't recognise Jesus until he spoke her name ... that he didn't want her to cling to him. The risen Jesus was different.
truth
Hmmmm.
implications
That Mary was the first to see Jesus perhaps bodes well for women's authentic vocation. The fact that Mary didn't recognise Jesus may hint that we see what we expect to see, but that God can surprise us.
problems
I don't very much like that Jesus asked Mary not to hold onto him. I guess this could be about the fact that their relationship would now be different, or it could be about a new role for her - apostle - spreading the good news. But if I were Mary, I think I would feel sad at this rebuff ... doubtless a sign of my spiritual immaturity :-)
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* And Death Shall Have No Dominion
by: Dylan Thomas
And death shall have no dominion.
Dead mean naked they shall be one
With the man in the wind and the west moon;
When their bones are picked clean and the clean bones gone,
They shall have stars at elbow and foot;
Though they go mad they shall be sane,
Though they sink through the sea they shall rise again;
Though lovers be lost love shall not;
And death shall have no dominion.
And death shall have no dominion.
Under the windings of the sea
They lying long shall not die windily;
Twisting on racks when sinews give way,
Strapped to a wheel, yet they shall not break;
Faith in their hands shall snap in two,
And the unicorn evils run them through;
Split all ends up they shan't crack;
And death shall have no dominion.
And death shall have no dominion.
No more may gulls cry at their ears
Or waves break loud on the seashores;
Where blew a flower may a flower no more
Lift its head to the blows of the rain;
Through they be mad and dead as nails,
Heads of the characters hammer through daisies;
Break in the sun till the sun breaks down,
And death shall have no dominion.
5 comments:
Could the reason been for him not Mary to touch him was because he was really a spirit form, appearing to be solid.
Hello Cathy. Thanks for dropping by.
I wish the answer was that easy. But Jesus will later eat a piece of fish to prove he isn't just spirit form.
Crystal: hadn't read that one by Dylan -- thanks. I was thinking Donne myself.
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow,
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
And dost with poison, war, and sickness dwell;
And poppy or charms can make us sleep as well
And better than thy stroke; why swell'st thou then?
One short sleep past, we wake eternally,
And death shall be no more; Death, thou shalt die.
Hi Cathy. In some of the other gospels, Jesus lets the disciples touch him and even tells Thomas to put his hand into the wound in his chest ... maybe it has something to do with when he ascends?
Hi David - I like Donne :-)
Thank you for sharing these poems with us, Crystal and David. I enjoyed both of them.
David, I agree that the answer to Cathy's question is not so easy, yet it may still be true, even though Jesus later eats a piece of fish, or has the disciples touch him.
Crystal, you write simply, "The risen Jesus was different." It seems we must really open ouselves to the possibilties of this difference to see it, and to feel the truth of it. His aliveness now is not in the same physical form, nor will it ever be. His aliveness now is so much more.
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