12 Then they returned to Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, which is near Jerusalem—a Sabbath day’s journey away. 13 When they arrived, they went to the room upstairs where they were staying: Peter, John, James, Andrew, Philip, Thomas, Bartholomew, Matthew, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon the Zealot, and Judas the son of James. 14 They all were continually united in prayer, along with the women, including Mary the mother of Jesus, and his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the brothers and sisters—the number of people who were together was about a hundred twenty—and said, 16 “Brothers and sisters, it was necessary that the Scripture be fulfilled that the Holy Spirit through the mouth of David foretold about Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. 17 For he was one of our number and shared in this ministry.” 18 Now this man acquired a field with his unrighteous wages. He fell headfirst, his body burst open and his intestines spilled out. 19 This became known to all the residents of Jerusalem, so that in their own language that field is called Hakeldama (that is, “Field of Blood”). 20 “For it is written in the Book of Psalms:
Let his dwelling become desolate;
let no one live in it; and
Let someone else take his position.
21 “Therefore, from among the men who have accompanied us during the whole time the Lord Jesus went in and out among us— 22 beginning from the baptism of John until the day he was taken up from us—from among these, it is necessary that one become a witness with us of his resurrection.”
23 So they proposed two: Joseph, called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, “You, Lord, know everyone’s hearts; show which of these two you have chosen 25 to take the place in this apostolic ministry that Judas left to go where he belongs.” 26 Then they cast lots for them, and the lot fell to Matthias and he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1:12-26

Dear God, it’s a little vague to me whether or not Mary, the mother of Jesus, was with Mary Magdalene at the tomb after the resurrection, but it’s clear that she is with the apostles now. And her sons re there too. They’re in. They are ready to acknowledge that their brother was unique. They were wrong to have tried to get him out of that house. I wonder if Mary’s sister was there too. So many questions.

This is our last reference to Mary in the New Testament, but I think we can assume she was with them just a little while later for pentecost, and she was part of the church. After all, John was responsible for her now (although I would imagine Jesus’s brothers were more on board with taking care of her now too).

So sometime between the desperate sorrow and loss of the crucifixion and this moment, picking a replacement for Judas, she found out he was alive again. I’m sorry, I didn’t do that justice: HE WAS ALIVE AGAIN!! What an amazing moment that must have been for her. Her life went from being invalidated to validated. Everything good she believed about him was affirmed, and everything she doubted was erased.

I was thinking about this story last night as I went to bed, and I thought of a song I first heard back around 1986. It was by a singer who is deceased now named Luke Garrett. I think it might have been written by the Gaithers. It’s called, “Then Came the Morning.” The second verse and subsequent chorus are about Mary’s experience that weekend:

The angel, the star, the kings from afar, the wedding, the water, the wine. Now it was done, they’d taken her son. Wasted before his time. She knew it was true. he watched him die too. She heard them call him just a man. But deep in her heart she knew from the start somehow her son would live again.

Then came the morning! The night turned into day. The stone was rolled away. Hope rose with the dawn. Then came the morning. Shadows vanished before the sun. Death had lost and life had won, for morning had come.

Now, I’m not necessarily buying the part that she knew deep in her heart he would live again in bodily resurrection any more than I believe Princess Leia knew all along that Luke was her brother. But I completely track with the idea that she was confused and hurt. But then came the morning. That’s what this is all about. The morning came. Your plan came together and she lived to see it. Joseph didn’t live to see it, but she did. What a sweet gift you ended up giving her.

Father, there are things for which I pray every day that I have faith you will grant. Things mainly involving my children. And I may live to see them come about, but maybe I won’t. That’s okay. It’s about your timing and not my ego. It’s about your plan being made perfect and not any agenda I try to lay on top of it. So I give this to you, and if I’m not around to see the “morning,” then so be it.

In Jesus’s name I pray,

Amen