Today, we witnessed Mary Magdalene's meeting with the resurrected Jesus.
In yesterday’s resurrection encounter, we saw how the sight of the empty tomb filled the women with fear and joy. Today, we see how Mary is also profoundly affected by the absence of Jesus’ body. She sits outside the tomb, weeping.
People experience the empty tomb in many diverse ways. How does it affect you?
Again, we see how Jesus meets her in this moment of intense emotion. In her confusion, she mistakes him for the gardener. But when he calls her by her name, she recognises him and rejoices.
Jesus meets people differently. In what ways has he called you by
name? How have you responded?
A third similarity with yesterday’s account is Jesus’ instruction to go and tell the other disciples about his resurrection. Mary becomes the apostle to the apostles.
Jesus missions us in various ways. What is his invitation in your life? What sort of apostle are you?
How does Jesus meet me, and how does he call my name? What mission does Jesus give to me?
Reflections by Sean van Staden SJ
