GOSPEL, John (20:11-18)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint John
Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene
11 But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; 12 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. 13 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.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). 17 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.’” 18 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.
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
Today the Church celebrates the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. She is mentioned among Christ’s disciples, witnessed his death and was afforded the deserved honour to be the first to see the Redeemer risen from the dead. (John 20:11-18)
Her cult spread in the Western Church, especially from the 12th century onwards.
Today’s Gospel (John 20:11-18) narrates the appearance of the risen Christ to Mary Magdalene. Like her, we can also make the painful journey to the Paschal reunion.
Mary Magdalene cries, but she seeks, (John 20:13) seeks the Jesus she had known and with whom she had lived for three years.
Mary Magdalene talks to Jesus without recognizing him (John 20:14-15) Just as the disciples at Emmaus saw Jesus but did not recognize him (Luke 24:15-16). The same happens with Mary Magdalene. She sees Jesus but does not recognize him. She thinks He is the gardener. She is still looking for the Jesus of the past, the same Jesus of three days since. The image of the Jesus of the past prevents her from recognizing the living Jesus present in front of her.
Mary Magdalene found Christ. We discover Him each day through faith awakened by the love of our brothers and sisters,” For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them”. (Matthew 18:20)
We find him in the community united in the love of Christ, celebrating the memorial of his death and resurrection, our faith always renewed in the risen Christ.
After meeting Jesus, Mary left with a mission, to make the news known to her brothers.
We too are invited to announce the Resurrection of Christ by witness and word.
PRAYER ‘To Saint Mary Magdalene’
Saint Mary Magdalene, you were called to witness the resurrection of Jesus. Bring us the blessing of the living and reigning Holy Spirit, the power of the one God and His Son Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Amen.