Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20, 11-18

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.

He resurrected!

1. Weeping. We see Mary “weeping outside the tomb”. She weeps because she looks at what has been lost, but she cannot see the Risen Christ because she does not raise her eyes. There are times when you too become obsessed with the past, with what you’ve lost. You keep looking at the “corpse” of your failures and you’re not able to look at the whole picture. You look at what you have lost, but not at the opportunity that appears. You cry over what you have suffered, but you don’t see the joy that something new can bring to you. Stop crying about something that has already ended and start enjoying the opportunity that is presented to you. Because the opportunity is always there, but to see it you have to wipe away the tears that don’t let you see clearly. Look up!

2. She recognized Him. Many times, we look at things without really seeing or understanding them. And this may cause suffering. It is faith that opens your eyes and allows you to see life in a different way, not only spiritually speaking, but also considering your dignity. At first, Mary did not recognize Jesus because her anxiety did not allow her to do so. Often, your pain and distress don’t allow you to see the wonderful things that are given to you in life. But this is where listening to Jesus comes in. When Jesus says her name, Mary Magdalene listens, she pays attention to the voice of the Person speaking to her. You have to recognize Jesus; learn to listen. When you recognize Jesus’s voice in your life you’ll feel safe and full of peace. To listen it is necessary to be silent, and to be silent it is necessary to be open and receptive.

3. Proclaim. Jesus asks Mary Magdalene to go and tell others what she has seen and heard. He asks her let everyone know He has risen. From being a sinner, Mary becomes a missionary; from feeling anguish and grief, she becomes a woman of hope. Because whoever meets Christ needs to announce that there is something different in life, and Mary Magdalene proves and confirms this. May this Easter allow you to resurrect and discover that everything can be different if you are willing to wipe your tears and see life from God’s view.

Remember that something good is on the way!

May God bless you and be with you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.