“Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned around…” John 20:16
Today’s gospel reading begins with Mary Magdalene weeping outside the tomb. In John’s account, she had already been there earlier, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone of the tomb had been removed. She ran to tell Peter who ran back with the Beloved Disciple and reported the body had been taken. Once confirmed, it says, “Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb.”
Mary’s grief is palpable.
In the midst of her disorientation and grief Jesus says, “Mary!” It wasn't until he called her by name that she recognized him. She didn't recognize him earlier, which, I believe points to an important movement in the spiritual life: We respond. We may think it is our initiative, but it is God’s initiation and we respond. God doesn’t love us because we love God. Our love is in response to that first love. God acts, we respond. Our love is nothing more than a dim reflection of that first, perfect love.
Mary only knows him when he calls her by name, even though she asked him a question first. He didn’t respond to the question she asked but simply said, “Mary!” and she knew His voice. The main point being not so much that she didn't recognize him, but that she is known by him. It reminds me of the disciples on the road to Emmaus. They didn’t recognize him either, until he revealed himself to them in the breaking of bread, after having opened up Scripture to them.
It is easy amid all the noise in the world today to become discouraged, to even feel like you are in a dark place. I have many, many questions for Jesus about why the Church is being brought to its knees. But I know he calls people by name and I try to stay attentive to him knowing that He is going to act first. We will know the intimacy of His voice because we are fully known by Him.
You are here today because Jesus called you here. Like Mary, if you are grieving, know that He is with you, even though you may not recognize him right away. He is with you, he is always with you.
As the prophet Isaiah wrote,
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;
when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,
and the flame shall not consume you.”
God loves you. He has spoken this word of truth into your life. It is not your initiative, but Christ's, so what is your response?
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