Post-Easter (latter April), 2020
By the standards of the day, the followers of Jesus were pretty much nobodies. To be sure, a few of the followers of Jesus were well-placed, but they were the exceptions that proved the rule. In Matthew’s account of the resurrection of Christ Jesus, we see that even he had his issues. Matthew writes of Mary Magdalene and the “other Mary” in 28:1.
Back in the 1980s, I served a small congregation on the south side of St Louis, Missouri. There were not a lot of children, but two of them were named “Mandy.” One girl was very outgoing; one was more reserved. The outgoing girl tended to get more attention and was the object of frequent conversation. The reserved girl was noticed less and was often referred to as the “other Mandy.”
At some point in all this, I caught myself in that error and resolved not to use the “other Mandy” as a mode of identification. That admission of error helped me to better see her as an individual. She was more of an individual than I had appreciated. I’m glad the Spirit of God prodded me to improve.
As often as I’ve heard and read Matthew’s account, the “other Mary” comment didn’t hit me . . . until last Sunday. C’mon Matthew! I’m sure you knew better. We all do. So, was this semi-identified Mary? Mary of Clopas (one of varied spellings) is commonly mentioned as the identity of the “other Mary.” This only tells us so much. The historian in me wishes that Matthew had given us more precision. Still, at least he gave us the “Mary” part. Some scholars have advanced the possibility that Jesus’ mother Mary and Mary of Clopas were sisters in-law. Family ties were not the be-all and end-all for Jesus. His value system went beyond family and nation and religion to establish relationships, but family clearly mattered to Jesus, his mother especially.
All too often these, people are dismissed as “other.” That in itself does little harm, I suppose; but it paves the way, so to speak, for dismissive attitudes that can lead to neglect and worse.
God’s love does not recognize “other.” We are all God’s children. The biblical image of being a limb grafted onto a tree comes to mind. Paul (in portions of Romans, chapter 11) used the comparison of olive trees—a branch from a wild olive tree grafted onto a cultivated olive tree as an example. Once grafting has taken place, the amended tree becomes a solitary unit.
In Smyth County, VA, I used to drive past a house that had a standard dogwood in the yard. Grafted onto the tree was a branch from a pink dogwood tree. I couldn’t miss the contrast in color, and I was struck by the efficiency of the grafting. Yes, we’re all grafted together; but our individuality finds a way to present itself.
In an earlier posting I included a white dogwood. With this posting I include a pink one. I’ll rely upon your imaginations—or memories similar to mine—to accomplish the grafting task. Once we get past Christ Jesus, we’re all grafted. I hope that such a reality can give us measures of both humility and joy.
Take care,
Pastor Bill
