7/22/2024 (Monday) Today’s gospel reading: John 20:1-2, 11-18

1 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.
2 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.”
11 Mary 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 Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

7/22/2024 (Monday) Today’s gospel reflection / homily / sermon: John 20:1-2, 11-18

In the darkness of early morning, Mary Magdalene ventured to the tomb where Jesus had been laid, her heart heavy with grief. Finding the stone rolled away, she hurried to tell Simon Peter and the beloved disciple, fear and confusion gripping her. Later, as she stood outside the empty tomb weeping, she encountered angels and then, unknowingly, Jesus Himself. When He spoke her name, her sorrow turned to joy. This poignant encounter offers us profound lessons of hope, transformation, and the power of divine love.

Mary’s journey to the tomb, motivated by love and devotion, reflects our own searches in life. Often, we approach our “tombs”—situations marked by loss, disappointment, or uncertainty—bearing the weight of our burdens. In these moments, it may seem like the darkness will never lift. Yet, the story of Mary Magdalene teaches us that even in the darkest hours, we are not abandoned. The stone was rolled away, not to let Jesus out, but to let the world see that He had risen. This miracle signifies that no barrier, however formidable, can contain the resurrection power of Christ.

Mary’s initial failure to recognize Jesus resonates with our struggles to see God’s presence in our lives, especially when we are overwhelmed by sorrow. It wasn’t until Jesus called her by name that Mary recognized Him. This intimate moment is a beautiful reminder that God knows us personally and meets us where we are. In our tears and confusion, He calls us by name, inviting us to experience His presence and peace. This personal encounter with the risen Christ transforms our despair into hope and our grief into joy.

The command Jesus gives Mary—to go and tell the disciples of His resurrection—is a call to all believers. We are entrusted with the message of hope and new life, tasked with sharing it in a world that often feels like a perpetual Good Friday. Like Mary, we might feel inadequate or fearful, but the power of the resurrection emboldens us. Our testimony can bring light to others’ darkness, offering assurance that death is not the end, and that through Christ, all things are made new.

This gospel narrative is not merely a historical account but a living testimony of hope, love, and transformation. It challenges us to seek Jesus in our darkest moments, recognize His voice in our lives, and boldly share the message of His resurrection. Just as Mary Magdalene’s sorrow turned to joy, so can our darkest nights be transformed into mornings of radiant hope through the risen Christ.

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