Tuesday in the Octave of Easter: Who are you looking for?

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping…
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” John 20: 11, 15

Mary Magdalene believed in Jesus and is mentioned in the Gospels as a witness to Jesus’ crucifixion and death. It is only natural that she would soon go to the tomb where Jesus was laid, what else could she do? When I think of Mary Magdalene weeping outside of the tomb, I am brought to a place inside myself that I have visited all too often in my life, a place full of sadness, a reminder of problems that I could not solve and dreams that did not come to be. Here, there is no hope and no desire to move forward.  In this place, I, along with Mary Magdalene, want nothing more than to mourn a deep loss and convince ourselves that we may never truly live again.

If Grace is to receive gifts beyond our own merit, then God is already at work to help us even before we are ready to look up from our own sadness. He is in the angels who ask Mary Magdalene “Woman, why are you weeping?” He is Jesus, who plays the role of the gardener waiting for Mary to recognize Him. As she describes her plan to recover the corpse of her Lord, God already has a bigger and better truth in store for her.  In the same way, when our source for hope and life is threatened and even when it is taken away, we do not face it alone.  God is at work in our loved ones through a smile or a few kind words. In these times, may we feel support and love to continue along our journey with renewed courage and understanding. We are invited to receive this love and to follow Jesus’ example to be this love for others. He has already taken the first step. He has conquered death, so that we may live.

Lord, be with me in my sufferings. Help me to see the goodness you have prepared for me. Help me to live a life worthy of Your love.

reflected by David Pham