REFLECTIONS TODAY
John dramatizes the encounter between the risen Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Even though Jesus stands plainly in sight, Mary does not recognize him. He asks her, “Whom are you looking for?” (v 15)—a question that probes discipleship (Jn 1:38-41, where the early disciples stay with Jesus and find the Messiah). Mary is looking for the dead Jesus; she will find the living one. The tears she shed for her Master have blurred her vision to the heavenly interventions (the two angels). Jesus overcomes this failure by calling her by name. Jesus is the Good Shepherd who calls his very own by name (Jn 10:3). Mary verifies this claim and proves that she is one of those of whom Jesus said: “I know mine and mine know me” (Jn 10:14).
At the end of the story, Mary Magdalene announces to the disciples that she had seen the Lord. The Beloved Disciple was the first to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. At the command of the risen Christ, Mary Magdalene was the first to proclaim the risen Lord. Hence, from ancient times, she was given the moniker “Apostle to the Apostles.”
Pope Francis has elevated her memorial to a feast, the same rank that is given to the celebration of the Apostles in the General Roman Calendar. She is an example of a true and authentic evangelizer.
First Reading • Sg 3:1-4b [or 2 Cor 5:14-17]
The Bride says: On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves—I sought him but I did not find him. I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek Him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. The watchmen came upon me, as they made their rounds of the city: Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves.
Responsorial Psalm • Ps 63
“My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.”
Gospel • Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “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!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going 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 then reported what he told her.
Source: “366 Days with the Lord 2024,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected].