Picking Up the Pieces: Mary Magdalene

In the darkness of Easter morning, Mary Magdalene goes to Jesus’ tomb and sees the stone has been removed. She runs to tell Peter and John who also run and verify the empty tomb, but they return to their homes. Mary, however, stands outside Jesus’ tomb and weeps. In her evaluation, everything with Jesus just went from bad to worse, for someone must have removed Jesus’ body and laid it in an unknown place. Two angels appear and ask her why she is weeping. She turns around and sees Jesus, though she does not recognize Him yet. He too asks her why she is weeping (3x already). Again, she holds to her understanding that someone must have moved Jesus’ body. Notice that Mary uses “Him” 3x: it was He who filled her thoughts to the exclusion of all else. Jesus then summons her by name: “Mary.” Anguish and despair are suddenly swallowed up by astonishment and delight. Mary exclaims “Rabboni” and clings physically to Jesus, likely by the feet. Jesus gently redirects Mary; Easter is not the time to cling to Him physically, but for going in joy and sharing the good news of His resurrection and ascension to His Father and OUR FATHER, as Mary obediently does.