A POV From Someone Else

What2Say2Day? Once again someone says it better than I could.

http://act.ucc.org/site/MessageViewer?em_id=40661.0&dlv_id=51901


Write Your Own Ending

Excerpt from Mark 16: 9 – 18 

"Now when he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons."

Reflection by Anthony B. Robinson

You may not be able to find today's reading in the regular part of your Bible. Chances are good that it is hidden in the footnotes in very small print with a line that says, "Not part of the best manuscripts, probably added later." Mark, scholars tell us, really ends at 16: 8 with the words, "They said nothing to anyone for they were afraid." That doesn't so much end as it breaks off.  But then someone came along and added on. Wanted to pretty it up.

Not everyone likes that. Apparently some Bible translators don't like it because they bury these verses in the footnotes. I used to not much care for this "added ending" either. "No," I said, "it ends here. Deal with it." (I had been to seminary!) But then it occurred to me that maybe later people adding other endings could have a message. Maybe it is up to each of us to add or write our own ending, or at least a next chapter, in the story. Jesus is raised from the dead, now it's our turn, your turn and mine. With grace alive, it's your turn to write your own ending, your own next chapter, whoever you are and wherever you are.

Prayer
Bind me into your story of resurrection Lord, and free me to write my own part of your story of love and wonder. Amen.