VICTORY GARDEN - One Bread, One Body, 3/25/2008

We at Presentation Ministries wish you a very blessed and holy Easter.
Praise Jesus our risen LORD!

Read about your Risen Life in Christ
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Tuesday, March 25, 2008, Easter Week

Acts 2:36-41, Psalm 33, John 20:11-18
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/nab/readings/032508.shtml

VICTORY GARDEN

"She supposed He was the gardener." —John 20:15

Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of Jesus' cross on Good Friday (Jn
19:25). "In the place where He had been crucified there was a garden," and
in this garden Jesus was buried (Jn 19:41). Jesus had earlier prophesied
that "unless the grain of wheat falls to the earth and dies, it remains
just a grain of wheat. But if it dies, it produces much fruit" (Jn 12:24).
This garden at Calvary contained the ground in which the dead body of
Jesus was sown. Jesus' dead body was put down, but what rose was glorious
(1 Cor 15:43-44). Jesus risen body was mysteriously different than what
was buried (1 Cor 15:37ff).

Mary Magdalene had followed Jesus for some time (see Lk 8:1-2), and she
was still following Jesus even after His death. If anyone could be
expected to recognize Jesus, it would be Mary. Nevertheless, Mary
Magdalene couldn't recognize Him by sight. She thought He was the gardener
(Jn 20:15). However, Mary eventually recognized Jesus because:
* she was seeking Him (Jer 29:13-14; Mt 7:7),
* she took the narrow gate through the cross of Calvary (Mt 7:13) to
find Jesus, and
* she entered through the Gate of the crucified Jesus (Jn 10:9), and in
so doing, found a garden instead of a desert (Jn 19:41).

In the end, Mary was right. Jesus is the Gardener (Jn 20:15). When we lay
down our lives for Him and give Him our all (Lk 9:23), Jesus gives us His
risen life. He pours out the Holy Spirit upon us (Rm 5:5) so that we grow
and bear fruit. "Receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38). Live
the risen life and grow "in the garden of God" (Rv 2:7).

Prayer: Jesus, may I seek You as Mary Magdalene did.

Promise: "I have seen the Lord!" —Jn 20:18

Praise: It took Dennis sixty years but he finally acknowledged that Jesus
is Lord.

(This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)

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Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant my
permission to publish "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from
February 1, 2008 through March 31, 2008
†Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General Archdiocese of Cincinnati,
August 14, 2007

The rescript is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be
free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have
granted ecclesial permission agree with the contents, opinions, or
statements expressed.

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