The Saturday before Easter

On this day,
The apostles are absent

From the gospels,
This missing day.
Jesus is dead
His disciples believe.
Their world is ashes.
Their grief is immense.
They fear for their lives.
They hide in the upper room.
Only the women dare to go out.
Jerusalem is strangely quiescent.

Pilate places a guard by the tomb.

This day Christ's body lies undisturbed.
Tomorrow the disciples' world

Will come alive
But not today.
We must remember

That missing day
When sorrow fills us,
When we tremble in fear,
When we hide from the world.
Those that knew our Savior best
Did not escape their human frailty,
Neither can we.
We know that with the morrow
Came relief and jubilation.
We have the risen Christ
Not the missing day.

The Sisters

Mary sat at Christ's feet

To learn from the Master

Just as the apostles did.

Martha, her sister, chose to serve,

To fulfill the obligation of hospitality.

She sought Mary's help

By appealing to Jesus

To banish Mary to the kitchen.

Jesus rebuke is clear:

Mary's choice to seek knowledge

Is blessed.

Too many churches only speak of Martha,

Consigning women to lesser roles.

Mary sat with the apostles.

Mary learned with the apostles.

Jesus wanted her there

To understand and then to teach.
Time to heed Jesus

In all denominations.
"Mary has chosen that good part,

Which shall not be taken away from her."
Women deserve to stand with men

In the service of the Lord.

 Photo by aflcio2008

Good Friday

Jesus walked to Golgotha,
The place of the skull,
To be crucified.
He would die on the cross
Unable to breathe.
His mother and other women
Stood at the foot of the cross.
Where was God?
On the cross.
In heaven weeping.
With the world
In this darkest hour.
The sacrifice was complete.
As Jesus said,
"It is finished,"
The miracle had just begun.

Photo by David Paul Ohmer

Easter Parade

When we hear the words
Easter Parade,
What do we picture?
Women in fancy hats and
Men in top hats?
Children with Easter baskets
Hunting for colored eggs across green lawns?
Better to remember
The Via Dolorosa.
Better to remember
The women
Carrying sweet spices
To the tomb of Jesus.
Better to remember
Peter and John
In a foot race to the tomb.
Best to walk ourselves into
An Easter morning worship.

Photo by Toast to Life