Reader’s Guide: “The Word for Today” Sunday, April 20, 2014 Read John 20:11-18 Today is Easter Sunday, the day all Christians hail as the most precious of all days. It is the day we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus and the hope of new life in him. We have already spent quite a bit of time looking at the story of the resurrection of Jesus in all four gospels. We have also already looked at the encounter between Jesus and Mary Magdalene so not much more needs to be said. Of all the gospel writers perhaps the story of Mary Magdalene is the one that we might identify with the most. Mary Magdalene presents a very human person blown away by the death of one she loved. She comes to the tomb, not expecting to find the risen Jesus. She comes to mourn the dead. We understand that. In her grief she is suddenly grasped by a truth that changed her life forever. She meets the risen Jesus. And she meets him when he calls her name. There is something important and precious about that. Mary does not recognize Jesus at first. But when he calls her name her eyes are opened. Mary become the first evangelist. A story filled with passionate despair evolves into a story of great joy. As we worship together at Easter we are invited to enter into this great joy – and to hear Jesus call us by name too, changing us forever.