The First Phone Call

Posted byjencoitoPosted inEasterTags:,

Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

“ Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.” -John 20:18

If we won an award, lost a tooth, or had something exciting happen as kids, our first call was always to our grandmother. In the pre-cell phone world, sometimes we would have to wait and try again later. When this happened, we would not call my aunt or anyone else until we could reach our grandma so she could be the first “hearer” of our news.  After his Resurrection, Jesus chose Mary Magdalene first for a reason. Maybe it was because of her openness to what would seem “impossible” to most of us. Maybe it was because what was happening was so real and awesome that He did not want her to hear it from anyone else.  

All of these first hearers and witnesses to the Resurrection could not keep the news to themselves. I think of a new grandparent who proudly shows baby pictures to people waiting in line in the grocery store or a high school student who hangs a banner on a freeway overpass inviting his girlfriend to prom. Are we overflowing with excitement and joy about what Jesus has done to us? What does it feel like for me to receive news I cannot hold inside?  Who are my first “hearers” of any news (good or bad)? 

Photo by Justin Heap on Unsplash

Published by jencoito

Jen Coito is a California native with diverse experience in parish, academic, and national ministry settings. She has a Masters in Pastoral Theology from Loyola Marymount University. She worked for the California Province of Jesuits for seven years promoting Christian Life Community on university campuses and other diverse ethnic settings. Jen has collaborated on the creation of formation materials, discernment tools, and small group processes that are being used around the country in Vietnamese, Korean, Spanish, and English. In 2013, Jen and Jesuit priest Fr. Tri Dinh co-founded Christus Ministries out of a desire to engage local young adults and form young-adult friendly parishes. Jen works for the Sisters of Notre Dame in California as the Associate Director of Mission Advancement. Jen, Jason, and their three children live in Southern California. You can read more of Jen's writings at www.jencoito.com.

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