Stories of the season

These are the days when key stories of the Jewish and Christian scriptures are retold and I'm impressed by how many are about meetings and conversations between individuals and deity (seen as such then or since).

Two encounters particularly interest me at this time: the story of Moses at the burning bush, and the story of Mary Magdalene at the tomb. Some things I notice:

-One an introduction, the other a reunion

-People acting first: Moses turning aside; Mary going to the tomb first thing in the morning and then later stooping to looking in after the men had gone

-People (and perhaps deity) confronting otherness and experiencing perplexity, bafflement: 

       ‘This is amazing” from Moses; Mary: 'Where have they taken him?'

-Deity addressing: God saying 'Moses'; Jesus saying 'Dear woman'

-Revelations and recognitions of identity: ‘I am who I am, ‘Rabboni’

-Each urgently engaging: informing, questioning, replying, requesting, warning, protesting: 

       ‘Who am I?’protesting Moses; ‘What about your brother?’countering Yahweh; 

       ‘Why are you crying?’asking Jesus; Mary's outstretched hand implied in Jesus' 'Don't touch me.'

-No disdain, no dismissal 

-Both intensely dramatic scenes, resonant in terms of consequence (and not just for the relationship) and also implication

Leaving aside the historicity of these accounts, these stories exemplify principles of encounter that apply generally. I think about some my encounters yesterday: giving an invitation to join our cross-country crossword, a service call for my ornery washing machine, a phone call with my mother, delivery of popovers to my neighbors... Certainly not with the same level of numinous poignancy or potency, my stories are recognizably similar interactions. The stories of this season point to an openness, a courage, an authenticity, a mutuality, a dignity, a power that I can learn to cultivate in my encounters.