Tuesday within the Octave of Easter

Readings of the day: RB 52 The Oratory of the Monastery

Mass: Ac 2:36-41; Resp Ps 33; Jn 20:11-18

 

Ferdinand Bol, Christ as a Gardener Appearing to Mary Magdalene

THIS IS THE DAY THE LORD HAS MADE;

LET US REJOICE AND BE GLAD.

ALLELUIA, ALLELUIA.

Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’

Today’s Gospel has Mary Magdalene experiencing emotions that can drain a person. First, she is grieving over the absence of Jesus in the tomb. Then, there is a sense panic in her voice when she says to the ‘gardener’: ‘Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.’ What is it that shakes Mary to the core and brings her focus? It is Jesus calling her by name: ‘Mary’. It is then that Mary sees Jesus in her midst. It may have been much different if Jesus would have said, ‘Hi there,’ or ‘Excuse me, ma’am, are you ok?’ Rather, Jesus calls Mary by name. Think about how meaningful it is when someone calls you by name. For example, you are a stranger where you find yourself, not knowing anyone. Then you hear someone call you by name, ‘David’. Someone recognizes you. Or the difference between when someone says, ‘Good morning’, or ‘Good morning, Ann’; ‘Peace be with you’, or ‘Peace be with you, Lillian’; ‘I love you’ or ‘William, I love you.’ Jesus got Mary’s attention by calling her name: ‘Mary’. A level of intimacy has been reached. Mary recognizes Jesus in his voice calling her by name: ‘She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.’

FEAR NOT, FOR I HAVE REDEEMED YOU;

I HAVE CALLED YOU BY NAME: YOU ARE MINE.

(Is 43:1)

MARY WENT AND ANNNOUNCED TO THE DISCIPLES,

‘I HAVE SEEN THE LORD.’

(Jn 20:18)