Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Today’s Gospel is one of my all-time favorites, one that I often return to when dealing with difficulties, in my own life or when what’s going on in the world is heavy on my mind and heart. Mary Magdalene, a dear friend and disciple of Jesus is weeping, peering into the empty tomb. I’m sure when she’s asked “Woman, why are you weeping?” it seems a ridiculous question. Of course she’s weeping. Jesus has died, and now she doesn’t even know where his body is. Note that in order to encounter Jesus in her grief, she has to turn around – to stop peering into the dark place of the tomb. I think that’s a very important point. Sometimes we are so caught up by the dark and empty spaces in our lives, or in the world that we can’t see the one who stands behind us. We need to turn around and look into the light.
Even then, at first, she doesn’t recognize Jesus, until he speaks her name. Mary is an example here of one who hears and knows the Shepherd’s voice (Jn 10:4). Only then, when she has turned to the light and has listened to him calling her name, Mary is sent as an apostle to the Apostles. Later, in John’s first epistle, he describes the experience of being entrusted with Good News: “What we have seen and heard and touched with our hands, we proclaim now to you. (1 Jn: 1-3)” The challenge and gift today is to be open in our weakness and proneness to be overcome by the darkness in our world or perhaps the sadness in our own lives. We are called to turn around and look to the light, to listen for God’s loving voice speaking our name, and to speak good news to those around us and to the world God loves.
—Sr. Laura Leming, FMI