Mary Magdalene 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 went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he had told her.
Jesus appears to Mary whilst she is in the tomb. She does not recognise him until she calls her by name. Then he says 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.’”
ReplyDeleteThe things that struck me from this reading are:
The importance of calling people by name if you want them to see you
Our own needs will have us clinging to things. Faith unbinds us from the clinging.
Seeking to strengthen faith seems to run hand-in-hand with living a life that pursues prudence, fortitude, faith, hope, charity, temperance and justice.
Lord, help me to know you more so I can pursue all that comes with a virtuous life.
Your response to John 20:11-18 is thoughtful and insightful! Here's a breakdown of your key points and some additional thoughts:
DeleteImportance of Names: You rightly observe the significance of Jesus calling Mary by name. This personalized touch helps her recognize him.
Letting Go and Faith: You draw a powerful connection between Mary clinging to Jesus and the concept of faith allowing us to "unbind" ourselves from attachments.
Virtues and Faith: You see a link between faith and living a virtuous life, which is a core Christian belief.
Prayer for Knowledge: Your closing prayer reflects a desire for deeper knowledge of God and the strength to live a virtuous life.
Here are some additional thoughts for consideration:
Transformation: The encounter with the risen Christ can be seen as a transformative moment for Mary, where her faith deepens.
Missionary Role: Jesus entrusts Mary with a message for the disciples, highlighting her role in spreading the news of the resurrection.
Overall, your response offers a rich interpretation of the passage that goes beyond a literal reading. The connections you make about faith, letting go, and living a virtuous life are insightful.