The Great Discovery

𝐀𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐋 𝟐𝟐, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓: 𝐓𝐔𝐄𝐒𝐃𝐀𝐘 𝐎𝐅 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐎𝐂𝐓𝐀𝐕𝐄 𝐎𝐅 𝐄𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑

𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐀𝐜 𝟐:𝟑𝟔-𝟒𝟏

𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐏𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐦: 𝐏𝐬𝐚 𝟑𝟑:𝟒-𝟓, 𝟏𝟖-𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟐 “𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐮𝐥𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐠𝐨𝐨𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝.”

𝐆𝐎𝐒𝐏𝐄𝐋: 𝐉𝐍 𝟐𝟎:𝟏𝟏-𝟏𝟖

𝐊𝐞𝐲 𝐕𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐞: “𝐈 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐫𝐝!” (𝐯.𝟏𝟖)

Regardless of the different versions of the stories we have read and heard that weren’t exactly kind to Mary Magdalene, she will go down in history as the first person to see the Risen Christ.

As it was customary for Jews to visit the tomb of their loved one for three days after the body had been buried, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early morning of the third day and finding the tomb open she ran back to the city where the disciples were hiding to report what she had seen.

She raced back to the tomb with Peter and John and finding the tomb to be empty the two Apostles left (v.10) and Mary who just stood outside the tomb weeping decided to look “into the tomb and saw two angels in white seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.” (vv.11-12)

How about you? When was the last time you visited the tomb of your loved one? And how did you feel? We read Mary wept but what was it that she felt after Jesus died and now his body was nowhere to be found? Did she feel deserted by Jesus who saved her from being stoned to death? Was she angry that somebody had taken the body away? (v.13) Or was she in shock and couldn’t comprehend what had happened? But certainly she felt depressed because everyone had high expectations of Jesus.

Don’t we also find a part of Mary in us? Don’t we also feel grief and sense of loss at the death of a loved one especially someone with whom we spent a great deal of our lives. At times, we feel angry and felt abandoned by God.

And then Mary turned around and saw Jesus standing but she did not realize it was Jesus. This was an interesting angle because for someone like Mary who was one of the disciples who were close to Jesus it was unlikely she will not recognize him. The only explanation was that Mary was weeping, and her sight was blurred and or she did not expect that Jesus would really rise again.

It was probable that Jesus stood as the sun brought in the light of day and Mary was having difficulty looking against the light and she did not recognize it was Jesus. This is the same for some of us who couldn’t see Jesus in our midst. It may be that we also don’t want to see Jesus because we are afraid that he might us for something we are not prepared to give at this time – our time, talent and treasure perhaps. Worst, we can’t see Jesus simply because we are so full of ourselves such that our pride and arrogance block our view of Jesus.

As Mary heard a voice: “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?” As she thought it was the gardener and Mary implored him to tell her where she could find the body of Jesus (v.15). And Jesus said to her: “Mary.” Mary must have heard this greeting many times in the past. Her recollection of the fondness in the way she was addressed by Jesus before must have come to life and she immediately recognized Him.

Jesus is near each one of us and He is calling our name. Close your eyes for the moment and draw a picture of Jesus standing near you and calling your name in a most loving way. Will you do what Mary did as she turned toward Him and cried out: “Rabboni!” which means Teacher (v.16).

Mary did not meet the Risen Christ until she saw the empty tomb and she reacted with joy as she ran to tell the other disciples. Conversely, we too cannot meet Christ until we discover that He is alive and, until we find that our tomb (hearts) has been emptied of sin, bitterness, anger, resentment, envy, arrogance and pride. When we empty our tomb of all these infirmities, then and only then can we be filled with the joy of the Good News and the impetus to share it with others.

Thus, Mary went back to where the disciples were assembled and gave them the news: “I have seen the Lord!” (v.18) In this one particular verse lies the very essence of Christianity because a Christian is someone who can say “I have seen the Lord” which means that there is in us a personal conviction that we have met him which means that we encountered him and have come to know him.

With an enlightened heart (Eph 1:18) we are able to see the truth of his resurrection and victory over sin and death. His death and resurrection was the great turning point in human history because it is through his death that an old world had ended and a whole new life entered the world through his resurrection.

More importantly, the death and resurrection of Jesus gives us the privilege of reaching God because Christ had become our perfect mediator, and he has united us to Himself so that now we could share not only in what he did, but we can now reach God through Him.

The resurrection of Jesus gives us the opportunity to see God face to face and share in his everlasting glory and joy especially in the Celebration of the Holy Eucharist such that each time we receive him in the breaking of the bread we can say readily say: “I have seen the Lord!” (Ed Malay – April 22, 2025)