By Manoj Kulanthai Rathinam G csc –
Readings: 2 Cor 5:14-17; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
Today, we celebrate the feast of Mary Magdalene, who experienced the risen Lord and said to his disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord.’ Mary Magdalene, who stood beside the cross of Jesus, out of love for him, continued at the grave where they laid him. She even continued to be with him, went to the tomb next day, but could not find him. Earnestly, she searched for him while asking the persons whomever she saw at that time, ‘Where have they taken my Lord?’
The love that she had for Jesus motivated her to look for him. In our daily lives, we love so many people like our parents, siblings, and others. We do whatever is possible to express our love for them. It could be through a phone call, or message, or sending them gifts, or visiting them if possible and spending time, or pleasing them by doing or giving what they like.
Let us pause for a while and ask ourselves, what are the occasions that I spend my time for them? Is it only when there are happy or even when they are sad? If we love someone, we always need to give an assurance that we are there for them.
Mary Magdalene, whose feast we celebrate today, teaches us how to be faithful in our love. She followed Jesus during his lifetime, and helped him in his mission, shared both joy and pain with Jesus. Out of her love for Jesus, God the Father blessed her to encounter the Risen Lord.
Let us also believe that when we love someone in this world, we love God the Father, and he reveals himself to us in various ways through different people. Through this experience, we can say, ‘I have seen the Lord.’ Let us strive for this experience in our lives.