Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Today’s first reading reminds me of those baptized and confirmed at Easter Vigil. It was such a joy to see them receive their sacraments. They remind me of my baptismal call and the commitment I made at Confirmation. Then, today’s Gospel reminds me of discipleship, the outcome of our call from Baptism and Confirmation. Mary Magdalene, like us, was also a disciple of Jesus. Therefore, what can we learn from this Gospel passage about discipleship?
One challenge this passage brings up is to reflect on the times when we failed to recognize Jesus. Mary thought that he was the gardener and perhaps wasn’t even looking at him when she spoke. If we believe that God is everywhere and is a part of our lives, then during this Easter season, let us be more attentive to God in our lives and have joy when we do find God just as Mary did.
Another lesson we can learn about discipleship is that the Gospel message requires that we go tell others about the Gospel. Jesus told Mary not to cling to him but to go and tell the other disciples that she saw him. We too are called to tell others about Jesus Christ’s impact on our lives.
This Gospel passage also challenges us to see when we hold on too much to God. Jesus told us to love God with our whole selves and to love other people as ourselves (Mark 12: 30-31). Our prayer and participation in liturgy should lead us toward loving others (and ourselves) and not just God. Mary told the other disciples, “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). The way we tell others that we’ve seen Jesus Christ is to love them as he does even though that is difficult to do. Let us learn from our “Rabbouni” (John 20:16) or teacher, Jesus, who shows us what it means to love others and to fulfill our baptismal call.
We are in the octave of Easter in which we celebrate the resurrection of Jesus every day like on Easter Sunday. Let us proclaim to all we encounter that Christ is risen. Alleluia!
—Sr. Emily Sandoval, FMI