Scripture:
Reflection:
“Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
I have always enjoyed Easter Week and, for as long as I can remember, I have always loved this wonderful Gospel passage from the 20th chapter of John’s Gospel. Quite simply, these few verses evoke a sense of powerful loss followed by a compelling awareness of discovery and new life. I hear in Mary Magdalene’s voice a plaintive cry from one who is still in such shock at the loss of her Lord that she is on the verge of panic and despair. Yet, with only a word spoken from the mouth of Jesus, “Mary”, her eyes are opened and a whole new awareness begins in her life. A simple calling out of her name by one who loved her so very much and her life is changed forever! For me, this is almost like a second resurrection except that this time it is profoundly personal and intimate, almost as if Mary Magdalene was singled out to be another special bearer of the unbelievable news of the resurrection.
We are all invited to listen for that calling of our name by the Risen Lord and we must listen carefully or we may miss it. But one thing I know, if we do hear the Lord call us by name, like Mary Magdalene, we will never be the same again!
Continued blessings for you all during this wonderful Easter Season and may the joy of the Resurrection fill your hearts with great peace.
Fr. Pat Brennan, C.P. is the director of Saint Paul of the Cross Passionist Retreat and Conference Center, Detroit, Michigan.