Bearing witness

Mark 15:40-47

There were also women looking on from a distance; among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. These used to follow him and provided for him when he was in Galilee; and there were many other women who had come up with him to Jerusalem.

When evening had come, and since it was the day of Preparation, that is, the day before the sabbath, Joseph of Arimathea, a respected member of the council, who was also himself waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Then Pilate wondered if he were already dead; and summoning the centurion, he asked him whether he had been dead for some time. When he learned from the centurion that he was dead, he granted the body to Joseph. Then Joseph bought a linen cloth, and taking down the body, wrapped it in the linen cloth, and laid it in a tomb that had been hewn out of the rock. He then rolled a stone against the door of the tomb. Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses saw where the body was laid.

“There were also women looking on from a distance.” I read this text this morning, and it came back to me this afternoon as I was gazing out over the Pacific, watching an otter dive and resurface, over and over. The otter was not affected by my presence or my gaze, but I was affected by watching her.

I have been affected for nearly a week now, as I take in the sights and smells of my new hometown, Pacific Grove, California. The beauty here takes my breath away. The life teeming on land, in the air, and in the sea is evidence of our Creator’s infinite imagination. And, judging by the otters, incredible sense of humor!

That day of Jesus’ crucifixion was very different from my day here today. But there were women watching. It is a point of connection that I felt viscerally. We are called to notice, to bear witness to both the good and evil we see around us. We cannot turn away from either, for God is seeking to be found in all of it.

Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of Joses watched from afar, because in their time that was all they could do. Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy man, was able to act on what he saw. He too had been watching. Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. And in that moment when most were certain it was not at hand, he did not run away. He cared for Jesus’ body, taking it from the cross, wrapping it in clean linen, and laying it in a tomb.

As we bear witness to all that is present in this world, how might we be called and equipped to act on what we see? Sometimes, all we can do is look on from a distance. But sometimes, we have the means to act in love. To ease a hurt, to celebrate a joy.

Or, perhaps, to commit to reducing our use of plastics, to help preserve this utterly amazing planet on which we live.

Bear witness, that you may be moved to act.

(no picture of the otter as she was too far away and it was too fun to watch!)