The Gospel of John 20:11-18 Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
In this passage, Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb, weeping. Her heart is heavy with grief, and she longs for answers. As she peers into the tomb, she sees two angels in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been. They ask her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” These celestial messengers, though otherworldly, show compassion and concern for her pain. Then, something even more remarkable happens. Mary turns around and sees Jesus standing there, but she does not recognize Him. Her tears blur her vision, or maybe her heart is too full of sorrow to comprehend. Jesus gently asks her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” Mary, thinking He is the gardener, pleads for information about Jesus’ whereabouts. She says, “Sir, if you have carried Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will get Him.”
And then, in a moment that transcends time and space, Jesus speaks her name: “Mary.” Instantly, recognition dawns. The Teacher, the One she followed and loved, stands before her. But Jesus tells her not to cling to Him, for He has not yet ascended to the Father. Instead, He commissions her: “Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness to the risen Christ. Filled with awe and joy, she runs to the disciples, proclaiming, “I have seen the Lord!” Her tears of grief transform into tears of wonder and hope. Jesus’ compassion reaches beyond the grave, inviting her into a new reality—a reality where death is conquered and love triumphs over despair. Jesus chooses Mary, a woman, as the bearer of the resurrection news. In a society where women’s voices were often silenced, Jesus elevates her to a pivotal role. His inclusion of Mary underscores His radical love for all people, regardless of gender, status, or background. After Mary Magdalene showed Peter and the other Apostle the empty tomb, they went home, but she remained, staring at the empty tomb. We wonder at her thoughts; were they wishful thinking, or grief over the loss of the man she loved, or possible expectations of his return? Were these thoughts so overwhelming that she did not recognize Jesus when He did Appear. We might examine the intensity of our self-centered thoughts, those that prevent us from seeing Jesus in certain persons and circumstances. We might have trouble recognizing Jesus in others who annoy us, or the depressing weather and on-going turmoil in the world. Fortunately, these moments do not last too long. Unfortunately, there are other moments that do not last too long and we, like Magdalene, would like to hold on. We might wonder at the beauty and splendor of creation or in prayer before the Blessed Sacrament remain in awe of the creative Genius of Jesus who would leave His presence with us as necessary food. We too, grieve the loss of these experiences, but hold on to the expectation that they will return when we, with Jesus, will ascend to His Father and our Father, His God, and our God.
May we, too, seek Jesus in our moments of grief, listen for Him calling our names, and share the good news of His resurrection with joy.
Let us Pray: O God of life, we profess our faith in Jesus, and recognize Him as our Lord and Savior. Make us listen to Him when He speaks His good news to us for it is a message of life. May we also hear His voice, when He cries out to us as people in need or simply when He speaks to us, in people who express to us their joys and hopes, their love and their faith. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 