�Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons..�  Mark 16: 9

A familiar story�one so familiar that perhaps we lose sight of the full humanness�and yet the full mystery�described in this gospel passage.  What would happen if we try to get �inside� Mary Magdalene�seeing with her eyes, hearing with her ears?  What would we see?  What would hear?  What would we feel?  Imagine�

I can�t sleep�how can anyone sleep?  Don�t they know the world has come to an end?  Did they not see the darkness descend as Jesus� breath left his body?  Do they not feel the crushing weight of sorrow?  Oh, God, how can it be?  Jesus, dead�killed�crucified at Golgotha!  I was there, I saw it with my own eyes�but, I can�t take it in�it just can�t be real!!

Jesus�my beloved Lord�you gave me back my very life.  I lived such a life before you came into it�tormented and constantly tortured by the voices, demonic voices.  I can still hear them echoing in my head.  ARGH!!!!  It was so unbelievably dark and ugly, fear and dread everywhere, my soul captured in their spell, my life a living death.  And, then�with your words, they were gone!  Gone!!  I was free!

And, now?  You are gone, gone forever.  I didn�t even get a chance to tell you how very much I love you.  I didn�t get a chance to tell you how you gave me life itself.  Oh, so many things I would have said, should have said�and, now, it�s too late.  A-ah, and the tears�the endless sea of tears�I don�t think my tears will ever stop.

I feel so alone.  Maybe if I go to the tomb, I can begin to take this horrible reality into myself.  Maybe�

What�s this?  The tomb is open�the stone rolled away from the entrance!  Oh, goodness, has his body been desecrated, too?  Haven�t they done enough?

It�s not there!  Where is he?  Where did they take him?  Oh, dear God�

Jesus, it is You?!  But, how can it be?  I was there, I heard your pain�saw you die.  I must be dreaming or hallucinating�.perhaps the demons are returning!  Oh, dear God, no!!  No, wait�it is indeed You!  I know those eyes�loving eyes that envelope me�that see my very soul.  It is You!  I don�t know how�but it is You!!  O thank you, God, thank you!!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!  Thank you!!  The Light of My Life Lives!!!