PRI Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

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Gospel 

John 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene 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." 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 Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and then reported what he told her.

Reflection

I think it's clear that Mary Magdalene was devoted to Jesus and listened to every word he said, and she took it to heart. But she couldn't grasp it. She had to go through an experience which is so true for all of us. That's the way it works. We know about what it is, and then we have to experience the power that is in that event, and it changes us.

So she's weeping. And Jesus said, why would you weep when I told you that this would happen? And then he looks at her and loves her and longs for her to become who she is. Mary. He says her name. Remember I told you this, I have to go to my father so that I can send you my presence.

So do not be afraid that I have left you. I'm coming in a way that's beyond your imagining.

Closing Prayer

Father, the experience the disciples and Mary, all of them had is something we go through ourselves in our own way, in our own time. Help us to ingest these mysteries because they are unfolding in each of our lives now. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Kyle Cross