A reading from the gospel according to John 20:11-18:

11 Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been.
13 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.”
14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
15 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.”
16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
17 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.’”
18 Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

Reflection:

In the gospel reading above, we find a story of profound hope and personal transformation. This passage narrates the encounter between Mary Magdalene and the risen Jesus near the tomb, a moment that transcends time and speaks directly to the depths of our souls. After discovering the empty tomb, Mary stands outside weeping, enveloped in sorrow and loss. It is here, in her moment of deepest despair, that she encounters Jesus, although she does not recognize Him at first.

The turning point of this encounter is deeply moving; Jesus calls her by name, “Mary.” This simple act of calling her name is a powerful reminder that recognition and understanding often come through a personal relationship, through being known intimately by God. Jesus’s gentle revelation to Mary illuminates the truth that in our most profound moments of grief and confusion, when all seems lost, we are not alone. God knows us intimately, calls us by name, and seeks to reveal Himself to us in ways that transform our understanding and experience of life.

Mary’s response to recognizing Jesus is one of joy and exuberance, a stark contrast to the sorrow that had enveloped her moments before. This encounter is a testament to the power of resurrection hope. It speaks to our own experiences of finding light in the darkest of circumstances, of discovering hope when all seems hopeless.

Let us take to heart the message of gospel narrative: that even in our darkest moments, when we feel most alone, there is hope. The risen Jesus meets us where we are, calls us by name, and invites us into a story of resurrection and new life. As we journey through our own times of trial and sorrow, may we remain open to the unexpected ways in which God might reveal Himself to us, transforming our grief into joy and our despair into hope.

*****

In the quiet morning stillness, just outside the empty tomb, we find Mary Magdalene standing alone, weeping. Her grief is raw, overwhelming. The one she had followed, the one who had brought her freedom and hope, had been brutally taken away. And now, even His body is missing.

This moment is more than a historical record. It is a deeply human story of loss, love, and the power of personal resurrection.

Mary looks into the tomb and sees two angels, but her broken heart can’t yet comprehend the wonder unfolding around her. They ask her, “Woman, why are you crying?” Even then, she remains focused on the pain: “They have taken my Lord away, and I don’t know where they have put him.”

Then Jesus appears yet she doesn’t recognize Him at first. Grief often blinds us to hope. Disappointment can distort our vision, making it hard to see that God is closer than we think. But then comes the turning point: Jesus says her name. “Mary.”

Just one word. But what power there is in being known. In that instant, she recognizes Him, the Teacher, the Lord, the Friend who saw her not for her past but for her purpose. It wasn’t a long sermon or a dramatic sign that revealed the truth to her. It was something far more intimate: the sound of her own name, spoken with divine love.

Jesus could have revealed Himself to anyone first such as Peter, John, or even a crowd, but He chose Mary. A woman once cast out, once dismissed by society. He honored her faithfulness, her love, her willingness to remain when others had scattered. He made her the first witness of the resurrection.

This speaks to us today. How many times do we stand outside our own tombs including tombs of disappointment, fear, shame, or loss, and weep, believing all is lost? How often do we feel unseen or unheard in the chaos of life?

Yet in those quiet, tear-stained moments, Jesus is near. And He knows your name. He knows your story, every broken chapter and every hidden fear. He sees the weight you carry and the questions that keep you up at night. But more than that, He sees who you are becoming. You are not defined by the grave, but by the God who conquered it.

When Mary recognized Jesus, everything changed. Her sorrow turned to joy. Her confusion turned to clarity. Her isolation turned into a mission. She went from weeping to witnessing, from mourner to messenger. “I have seen the Lord!” she declared.

That same transformation is possible for you.

No matter how dark your past is, Resurrection Sunday is always coming. Jesus is not dead. Hope is not gone. And your name is still on His lips.

So if you are standing in a place of sorrow today, know this: resurrection is not just an event. It is a person. Jesus is alive, and He is speaking your name.

May this truth breathe life into your soul. May it remind you that God is not distant in your pain, but present. He chooses the broken, the overlooked, the ones who stay when it’s hard. He entrusts them with the most powerful message the world has ever known: He is risen.

Like Mary, may you walk away from your tomb, not in despair, not in silence, but in boldness and with eyes that have seen the Lord and a heart that burns with resurrection hope. You are seen. You are called. You are loved. And your story is not over.

*****

Mary’s love for Jesus extends to the tomb. Mary was from a certain place called Magdala. The moment she was cleansed by Jesus of seven demons (Luke 8:2 and Mark 16:9), she became a devoted follower and according to our gospel reading above, she was privileged to be the first witness of the resurrection.

Jesus calls Mary by name. Everyone is special to Jesus. He calls us by name (Isaiah 43:1). May we value our name as something worthy of divine calling.

Why are you weeping? The grief of Mary Magdalene is understandable. His master, healer and Lord was innocently crucified. Now His dead body is nowhere to be found! Yet the Lord was there to give her the assurance that He is alive. Some of us are aggrieved by the loss of a loved one. We become confused and disheartened. We weep but Jesus is asking the same question. Why are you weeping? This is a reminder for us that physical death is just a way to the world beyond.

Who are you looking for? Mary Magdalene was looking for the dead body of Jesus. Unfortunately, she wasn’t able to find it because it wasn’t there anymore. Let us reflect on that. Perhaps we are also looking for something that is not there or someone who isn’t there. Let us make sure we are seeking for Jesus who is alive.

Mary recognized Jesus. May we have the eyes of faith to see Jesus and make Him Lord and king in all aspect of our life. May we also recognize His presence in people especially the poor like gardeners, farmers and beggars.

Stop holding on to me or touch me not. Jesus has risen from the dead. He is alive now. He is now telling us, as He had told Mary, to stop clinging to the crucified and buried body and instead focus on the glorified Jesus. Let us move on from our old ways into the new dawn of relating to Him and to one another. Let us stop weeping and instead ask Him to turn our mess into message and our wounds into witness.

I have seen the Lord. This was the initial message of Mary to the doubting apostles. Yes, she has become the first witness to testify on the truth of the resurrection. For us who have seen the risen Lord through the eyes of faith, let us go forth and boldly tell others about it.

You may also watch the video version below.