They Saw a Young Man Dressed in a White Robe

In the language of computer-speak, RAM stands for Random Access Memory. In Circle of the Word, that meaning is relevant because RAM has to do with memory, but the initials stand for the oldest pedagogical method known to man (and woman): Repeat-After-Me. In Circle of the Word, RAM is a step to getting the story into short-term memory.

I usually include the Repeat-After-Me activity somewhere up front when teaching a biblical story. But not with the stories of Jesus’ passion and death. It just doesn’t seem appropriate, I suppose because the exaggerated gestures and vocalizations often are a little on the silly side which almost always leads to laughter. The stories of Jesus’ passion and death are just too somber for that.

But this week we made it to the resurrection story (Mark 16:1-8) so after we did the Word I Heard activity I instructed everyone to stand up and put all their things down on their chairs. Next I told them what we were about to do–to go through the story again, this time with them repeating my words and my gestures.

Usually a few of the women will join me in telling the story, one line at a time, and follow my gestures, but this time almost all of them did. I could see out of the corner of my eye, the short woman on my left opting out of repeating my words, much less my motions. She watched somewhat in amazement I think, feeling perhaps a bit like the women in the story when they saw the young man in the tomb.

Because the others were energetically telling the story, following my lead with increasing gusto. We became one body, immersed in the story until we all sadly, but sympathetically proclaimed, “for they were afraid.” Smiles all around. “That was fun,” one woman exclaimed. Indeed it was. It was a joyful bonding experience, as communal participation in the resurrection ought to be. I would venture to say it was downright sacramental.