SAINT MARY MAGDALENE

I HAVE SEEN THE LORD, AND HE HAS SAID THIS… John 20:11-18  

In the Gospel, Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the risen Jesus stands out. The atmosphere is one of sadness and disbelief, at first; and, as Jesus meets Mary and she discovers that it is him, of immense joy.

After the risen Jesus, the protagonist is Mary Magdalene. Mary believed in Jesus, she loved him and had accompanied him to the cross, to the end. And then to the grave, because, since she can no longer have his living presence, she would at least like to keep his body: “I will take him.” The desolation was total and she could not recognize Jesus when He spoke to her, mistaking him for the gardener. But Christ speaks to her heart, calling her by name and, I imagine, with the affectionate tone with which He always addressed her. Mary, feeling touched in her heart, recognized him and felt an explosion of gladness and joy.