Acts 2:36-41,
Psalm 33:4-5.18-19.20 and 22,
John 20:11 - 18 Full Readings
Saint Crescentia Hoess
Recognising Jesus' Voice
Brethren as we continue to rejoice and be glad in Easter, let us also continue to reflect on the reality of resurrection in our lives, and on recognising the Risen Christ as he appears to us in different ways and experiences in our lives. Today's readings bring to us again another message of proclaiming the Risen Christ and his appearance to Mary of Magdala.
Jesus said to her (Mary of Magdala), “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. Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbuni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” John 20:15–17
Brethren, Mary showed the greatest love to Jesus all the way from his ministry, watching him die and behold she even doesn't want to leave him after his death. Her desperate heart at the tomb and searching for Jesus shows the greater love Mary had for Jesus. How deep is love for Jesus, at all times, in Joy and in sorrow. Most times as human beings when we're faced with sorrow, we tend to turn away from Jesus and find other means, meaning our love for Jesus is very shallow, Jesus should be the centre of our hearts and live at every moment. During this Octave Easter Reflect on how deep is your love for Jesus.
We may ask ourselves why Jesus told Mary, “don't cling to me because I have not yet ascended to the father” Is Jesus stopping Mary from loving Him? No, Jesus was in fact helping her for her growth in her spiritual Journey. Mary was clinging to Jesus on a human level, that is, being with Jesus and enjoying his physical presence. It was a relationship on a personal level. But since Jesus was going to the Father, Mary had to transcend this human relationship to the Divine Relationship, to love him in a divine way, that is, Jesus would now come from heaven and enter Mary's soul as a divine communion, a spiritual relationship. Mary would therefore transform all human emotions to the Divine longing for Christ. We have to remember that Jesus' message to Mary is also for us, it's an invitation to cling in Jesus spiritually as our sole love and comforter of our heart. This is the Divine Marriage, as he loves us as his bride, the church.
The second thing we can learn from today's Gospel, is recognising the voice of Christ in our lives. When Jesus called the name of Mary, Mary automatically recognised him, their relationship had gone deep that even a mere calling would make her recognise Jesus. Are we able to recognize the voice of Christ in our lives. There are a lot of voices in life always calling us, and we have a hard task to discern which is the right voice for us, which is the voice of Christ. We need to first know how Jesus speaks to us today.
How does Christ speak to us? Through his Word, his chosen servant priests, and religious, through our parents, friends, superiors, visions and others. However Christ also warned us of false prophets who would come in his name. Recognising if it's the voice of Christ is simple but to those who trust in him. We only need faith in him, trust and a deep relationship with him. It's there that he will give us the spirit of discernment so that we may be able to know him, recognise him, and follow him. Recognising him through the Holy Spirit precedes proclaiming him to all people as Apostles led by Peter in the first Reading are proclaiming him, inviting people to repent, and believe in the Risen Christ. It is our duty too.
Reflect today on how you cling to Jesus spiritually and ask for the Graces to recognize him and his voice in all your daily experiences. May God continue to bless us forever.
Let us Pray
My Jesus, thank you for your word. Help me to encounter you deeply so that I can bring you to others. May I be filled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit so that I can witness to you with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. Most of all, light my heart aflame with love for you and for others so I ignite these sparks of love in others, whomever I meet. Amen
Blessed Easter.
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