JOHN 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala 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.”

But 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 of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what He told her.

Reflection

Stop holding on to Me: On the feast of Mary Magdalene, we look back on Easter morning and see Mary weeping before the empty tomb. The Lord comes and talks to her, but in her grief she fails to recognize Him (v 15).

Note that Jesus does not disapprove of Mary’s passionate feelings and actions. He understands her human emotions, but her familiar gesture of taking possession of her beloved Master is no longer appropriate. Jesus is the Risen One, and though He lets Himself be seen by His disciples for a few days, He is in the glory of the Father. Mary and the other disciples must relinquish the physical presence of Jesus with which they felt so much at ease.

Jesus’ greatest desire is now revealed. He came from God and must return to God. He loves the world and gives up His life as proof of this love. But this is but a manifestation of His love for the Father. And it is as it should be because God the Father who sent His only Son to save men and women is the fountain and the goal of all love.

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