Last week, here in the United States, we had the finals of what is called March Madness, the college basketball championship. The students of the winning team are still basking in the glory of that final basketball game. Congratulations and pats on the back are still being given to the players. Although they want to hold on to that special moment, it quickly fades. The coaches are already thinking about recruiting new players and making plans for all the other aspects of next season.
Today’s reading is about a person who wants to hold on to this glorious moment - to the victorious Jesus whom she did not even recognize at first, but now is determined not to let go of Him (John 20:11-18).
The voice, not the appearance, awakened Mary to the fact that it was Jesus and not the gardener. Do you recall Jesus' statement that His sheep would recognize his voice?
The risen Lord called Mary Magdalene by the name she had often heard. She responded to His accustomed gentle tone. Mary had sought her dead Lord, but the risen Jesus sought Mary. Initially, her tears flowed from a broken and tormented heart; now, they flowed from a heart exulting. Awestruck, Magdalene fell at Jesus' feet and embraced Him.
As Jesus spoke, He said, "Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them …”
It is unclear why Mary was not to hold on to Jesus' resurrected body until He ascended to the Father. Regardless, Jesus interrupted Mary's embrace and instructed her to tell the others that she had met Jesus.
In the end, it was wise for her to release Him and, equally important, to free herself: The past becomes a prison if we do not learn to let it go. As Mary knelt before Jesus in the garden, she must let go of His human body in order to become part of the mystical body of the risen Christ.
Despite her desire to remain with Jesus, Mary was instructed to leave Him and carry out her mission. “Go and tell” was her assignment.
Suddenly, the quiet of the tomb gave way to the noise created by the news that Jesus' body had disappeared, and Mary Magdalene and others had seen Him. In the aftermath of the resurrection, the disciples were not afforded the luxury of "basking in the victory." There was a job to be done, a task to be accomplished.
The celebration of Easter Sunday not only announces that Jesus has risen, but also that we have a job to do. We live in a world with families and individuals that are in desperate need of Jesus. It is imperative that we inform them that He is still alive and available for contact.
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