First Reading (2Cor 5,14-17)
Reading of the Second Letter of Saint Paul to the Corinthians.
Brothers, the love of Christ presses us, because we believe that one died for all, and that, therefore, all died. Indeed, Christ died for all, so that the living no longer live for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Hence, henceforth, we know no one according to human nature. And if we once knew Christ according to the flesh, now we no longer know him like that. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old world has disappeared. Everything is new now.
– Word of the Lord.
– Thank God.
Gospel (John 20,1-2.11-18)
Proclamation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John.
— Glory to you, Lord.
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene went to Jesus’ tomb, very early in the morning, when it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran out and found Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said to them, “They took the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Mary was outside the tomb, crying. As she cried, she leaned over and looked into the tomb. She then saw two angels dressed in white, sitting where Jesus’ body had been laid, one at the head and the other at the feet. The angels asked: “Woman, why do you cry?” She replied: “They took my Lord and I don’t know where they put him.” Having said this, Mary turned back and saw Jesus standing. But she didn’t know it was Jesus. Jesus asked her, “Woman, why do you weep? Whom are you looking for?” Thinking he was the gardener, Mary said: “Lord, if it was you who took him, tell me where you put him, and I will come and get him.” Then Jesus said, “Mary!” She turned and exclaimed, in Hebrew: “Rabunni” (which means: Master). Jesus said, “Do not hold me back. I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell my brothers: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.” Then Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples: “I have seen the Lord!”, and she told them what Jesus had said to her.
— Word of Salvation.
— Glory to you, Lord.
Reflecting the Word of God
Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
Imagine yourself in a garden in the early hours of the morning. The darkness of night begins to give way to the faint light of dawn. The air is fresh, filled with the scent of flowers and early morning dew. In this serene setting, a woman walks alone, her heart heavy with sadness. This is Mary Magdalene, heading to Jesus’ tomb, carrying not only spices to anoint the Master’s body, but also the crushing weight of loss and grief.
How many of us have felt like Mary that morning? Walking through the darkness of our own losses, disappointments and pain, feeling alone and disoriented. Maybe you’re going through a moment like this right now – the loss of a loved one, the end of a relationship, the frustration of an unfulfilled dream. If so, I invite you to walk with Mary this morning as her journey from sorrow to joy, from despair to hope, reflects our own journey of faith.
The Gospel tells us that Mary arrives at the tomb and finds the stone rolled away. Her first thought is not one of hope, but of more despair: “They took the Lord from the tomb and we don’t know where they put him!” How often, in our moments of darkness, do we interpret God’s signs through the lens of our despair? How many times do we lose sight of the possibility of a miracle, trapped as we are in our limited expectations?
Mary runs to tell the disciples, and then returns to the tomb. The Gospel tells us that she stood “outside crying.” There is a deep beauty and vulnerability in this scene. Maria does not run away from her pain; she faces it, remaining at the site of her loss, allowing herself to fully feel her sadness.
There is an important lesson here for us. Often in our culture that values “toxic positivity,” we are encouraged to deny or suppress our pain. But the path to true healing and transformation often lies in courageously facing our wounds and losses.
As she cries, Mary bends over to look inside the tomb. This simple act of looking closer, of seeking beyond the obvious, marks the beginning of your journey of discovery. How often do we fail to see the signs of God’s presence because we don’t bend down to look closer, because we don’t look beyond our initial assumptions?
Mary sees two angels, but even this extraordinary vision does not immediately dispel her sadness. She is still trapped in her pain, unable to see beyond it. It is then that the transformative moment occurs: Jesus appears, but Mary does not recognize him. She mistakes him for the gardener.
Isn’t it ironic? The very object of her quest is before her, but she cannot see it. How often does this happen in our own lives? How many times is Jesus present in our suffering, in our challenges, in our joys, but we don’t recognize him?
It’s only when Jesus calls her by name – “Mary!” -Her eyes open and she recognizes him. There is incredible power in this moment of personal recognition. Jesus does not reveal himself through great signs or wonders, but through an intimate and personal call.
This is the heart of the Gospel, my beloved. Our God is not a distant and impersonal being, but One who knows us by name, who he calls us personally. As the prophet Isaiah says, “Do not be afraid, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are mine” (Isaiah 43:1).
Mary’s encounter with the resurrected Christ completely transforms her. She goes from a woman sunk in sorrow to the first witness of the resurrection, the “apostle to the apostles.” Her mission is clear: “Go to my brothers and say to them: I ascend to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”
This transformation of Mary leads us to Paul’s powerful message in the second letter to the Corinthians. Paul declares: “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old things have passed away; behold, a new reality has become.”
Reflect with me on the power of this statement. Being “in Christ” is not just a superficial change, a mere adoption of new habits or beliefs. It is a radical transformation, as profound as passing from death to life, as complete as a butterfly emerging from its cocoon.
Paul tells us that “the love of Christ compels us.” The Greek word used here, “sunechei”, carries the idea of being pressed from all sides, being completely enveloped. The love of Christ is not a gentle force that we can easily ignore; it is an overwhelming reality that drives us to action.
This love leads us to a radical conclusion: “If one died for all, then all died.” Paul is inviting us to see our identity in a completely new way. Our old, self-centered nature died with Christ on the cross. Now we live not for ourselves, but for Him who died and rose again for us.
Brothers and sisters, this is the essence of the Christian life. It’s not just about adopting a new set of moral rules or seeking spiritual comfort. This is a radical transformation of our identity and purpose. It is about dying to the old self and rising as a new creation in Christ.
But how do we live this reality on a daily basis? How do we allow this truth to transform not just our beliefs, but our actions, our relationships, our priorities?
First, we must, like Mary, be willing to face our pain and our losses. We cannot experience the resurrection without first passing through the cross. This means having the courage to honestly look at the broken areas of our lives, our wounds, our failures, and bring them into the light of God’s grace.
Second, we need to be aware of the presence of Christ in our daily lives. Just as Mary did not initially recognize Jesus, we often lose sight of his presence amid the distractions and demands of our routine. We need to cultivate an attitude of spiritual attention, seeking to recognize the voice of Christ calling our name amid the noise of the world.
Third, we must allow the love of Christ to “constrain” us, to propel us to action. This love is not passive; he moves us to love others as Christ loved us, to serve as He served, to forgive as He forgave. He challenges us to live no longer for ourselves, but for the One who died for us.
Finally, we must embrace our identity as new creatures in Christ. This means leaving behind not only our past sins, but also our old ways of thinking, our old priorities, our old fears and insecurities. It means living in the freedom and joy of who we are in Christ.
My dear brothers and sisters, just like the garden where Mary encountered the resurrected Christ, we are in a place of new possibilities, of renewed life. No matter how dark the night may seem, the dawn of God’s grace is always near.
May we, like Mary, hear Christ calling our name. May we, like Paul, be constrained by the love of Christ to live no longer for ourselves, but for Him. And may we, day by day, embrace our identity as new creatures in Christ, allowing His resurrected life to flourish in us and through us.
May the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little, perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
