Sometimes, my boys can be clingy. When they were younger, they used to follow me everywhere…and I mean EVERYWHERE. There were no shut doors in our house because they were entirely ineffective. If I went to the bathroom, little feet followed. If I had to take something to the basement, they trailed behind. Sometimes I played a game with myself to see just how long they would follow–walking circles around and around the house until one of them would finally say, “What are you doing?”

Now that they’re teenagers, the clinging is different. They still follow me around, but it’s mostly so they can talk at me about topics they’re interested in. Case in point: The other day, I needed to get somewhere by a certain time, but my fifteen-year-old didn’t get the message. As I went through the motions of trying to get out the door (brushing my hair, grabbing my keys, opening the garage door) he was there every step of the way talking, talking, talking. Every time I tried to interject with, “I really need to go,” he nodded as if he understood, but then just kept talking. Don’t get me wrong, I love it that my kids still want to be around me, even if it’s just to talk at me ad nauseam about random topics I’m not particularly interested in. But sometimes, I need them to let go so I can get things done.

This past Sunday, we read the resurrection account from the Gospel of John–where Mary meets the risen Jesus in the garden, thinks he’s a gardener, but realizes her mistake when Jesus calls her name. And then, this strange conversation takes place:

Theologians will tell you that there is some supernatural alchemy taking place in Jesus at this moment that’s not quite finished. And while I get that, I think there’s another lesson Jesus is teaching, too. Simply put, Jesus is saying: Don’t be clingy.

Sometimes, we can linger a little too long at the spiritual mountaintop party and forget that Jesus gave us work to do–go spread the good news! Jesus tells Mary that she has an important jog. She must go let the disciples know that he’s alive. Later, after Jesus appears to the disciples, he gives them a job to do, too. He tells them to go out and make disciples of others.

If I’m being honest, it’s much easier for me to sit and read my Bible or listen to a feel-good sermon than it is to go out into the mission field. The world is messy. Being in new situations makes me uncomfortable. And sometimes, loving others seems impossible. I prefer the warm fuzzies of security blanket Jesus. You know, the constant reminder that God loves me. God chose me. God fights for me. You see where I’m going with this, right? When I cling too long to the idea of my Jesus, I make faith all about me. But as Jesus shows Mary, it’s really not.

Author Brian Heasley wrote that “Christianity is not a self-help group.” While we do grow through our faith and through our encounters with Jesus, we also have a calling. Time and again, throughout Scripture, God calls his people to act. Do justice, he says through the prophet Micah. Do good. Do what’s right. DO…

This is the same message the disciples receive after Jesus ascends to heaven. They are full of awe and wonder, looking skyward and examining clouds. Some of them might have even sat down, waiting and watching for Jesus to return. How long they would have stayed there is anyone’s guess. They might have built a house and just hung out for the rest of their lives, discussing philosophy and theology and trying to prognosticate Christ’s return–safe, comfortable, warm. But fortunately, God intervened. He sent two angels to ask a rhetorical question:

In that moment, the disciples remembered–they had work to do!

Like Mary and the disciples, we can’t stay at the empty tomb or keep looking to the skies. We can’t keep holding onto Jesus just to make ourselves feel good. Instead, we need to let go…just a bit…and do the things he has called us to. But in the letting go there is trust–trust that Jesus has equipped us, trust that he has gone before us, trust that he will not abandon us. And above all, there is the gift of the Holy Spirit.

In John, Jesus tells the disciples that he will not leave them as orphans; rather, he will send a helper and comforter to be with them always. So, when we take those first tentative steps away from the garden or down from the mountaintop, we can rest assured that we do not do so alone. God clings to us. That leaves our hands wide open to spread his love. Now that’s news worth sharing!

Blessings and Peace,

Sara