The short and long of things.

       I wonder if anyone else thinks about such things as "the shorter version" and "the longer version" in Scriptures? I mean, what is the real story? Is there really a valid 'reader's digest' version of Scripture? Isn't something going to be lost? Who picks the words to contract that are inspired by God? And if written literally by God, why offer two versions? So many questions. The longer version here seems to give some basis for the malignment of Mary Magdalene. Remember though, we are reading English of original texts that are far removed in time, language and translation. The real story here is the short and long of things.

     The other day I shared something deeply personal in this blog space. I am sure there may be a few people who were taken back by my sinfulness in what I confessed to.  I had noted that my life is a journey and that my 'sinfulness' was part of that journey. If you were to look at the short version and note a precise 'sin' , if you judge me on that snippet, I suppose I am going to hell in a hand basket.  Does God see us in a short version or a long version?

       I strongly suspect ,nay, believe, that God sees the whole picture. God is that good, that powerful, that loving and that forgiving. I have no doubt for one moment that God does not look at me for a singular questionable act on my part. God sees my journey. Of course God sees every journey to wholeness. Are we cooperating? Are we trying to move forward to the magnificent creature God created us too be? 

        As I jokingly pray for Hester to win just one more "A", I know that none of us are judged by God for a single moment of weakness or something that has troubled our soul in trying to be what God created us to be. God's love is abundant, boundless, gracious and forgiving. 

       The question will become, can we see ourselves in 'the bigger picture' and can we see others as more than a single moment of weakness or sin? Can we see the bigger picture or the 'longer version' of life? I pray for our improved vision and compassion.

Mark 16:1-20

When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him.And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb. They had been saying to one another, ‘Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?’ When they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had already been rolled back. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man, dressed in a white robe, sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. But he said to them, ‘Do not be alarmed; you are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He has been raised; he is not here. Look, there is the place they laid him. But go, tell his disciples and Peter that he is going ahead of you to Galilee; there you will see him, just as he told you.’ So they went out and fled from the tomb, for terror and amazement had seized them; and they said nothing to anyone, for they were afraid. 

The Shorter Ending of Mark

[[And all that had been commanded them they told briefly to those around Peter. And afterwards Jesus himself sent out through them, from east to west, the sacred and imperishable proclamation of eternal salvation. ]] 

The Longer Ending of Mark

[[Now after he rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons. She went out and told those who had been with him, while they were mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he was alive and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he appeared in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. And they went back and told the rest, but they did not believe them.
Later he appeared to the eleven themselves as they were sitting at the table; and he upbraided them for their lack of faith and stubbornness, because they had not believed those who saw him after he had risen. And he said to them, ‘Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover.’
So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it. ]]