He Knows My Name

Oh how I love today’s gospel. Mary Magdalene was simply wrecked at the death and loss of her beloved Jesus. I can place myself into this scene easily as she wept outside the tomb. When I visit my dad’s grave at the cemetery, there is something so extra final about it. The being covered over by grass and a headstone gives it permanence and seals in the excruciating ache of never seeing him again. And yet, I go there because I find some sort of comfort in just being near him. Mary Magdalene had a very special relationship with Jesus. He delivered her from the insurmountable bondage of being a slave to seven demons and when that kind of freedom happens one is compelled to go “all in” for the one that freed you. Mary was all in for Jesus from the moment of her deliverance. She was there on the sidelines as he was scourged, beaten, and humiliated. She walked along with Jesus’ mom and the beloved apostle as her savior carried the sins of the world on his back. She stood and watched as nails were driven into her beloved’s body. She was there when he breathed his last breath. The agony of watching your loved one labor toward death is traumatic and only amplifies the grief when they are gone. Mary’s grief was all consuming and deafening. I understand this kind of grief. Can you feel her ache? Can you imagine the devastation? Can you enter into the mourning? Can you understand her confusion?

In her grief-stricken state, she hunkers down into the burial place of her beloved and finds two shiny guys hanging out. Let’s just add to Mary’s already conflicted mind! “Woman, why are you weeping?” Mary must have felt like she was taking crazy pills. I’m sorry, I was just looking for the dead guy that I left here two days ago, that’s all. Then she turned around and Jesus was there, but she didn’t recognize him. How many times have I been in such a confused state and all I needed to do was turn around to find Jesus? How many times have I not seen him standing right there because I was too caught up in my own stuff? He even spoke to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? (She must have been over all these men asking why she was crying. I mean come on, she was crying because her beloved was gone!!) Whom are you looking for?” Why was everyone messing with poor Mary that morning? Still unable to see who he was, she kind of blew off his question. How many times have I blown off a conversation with Jesus because I was unable to see or hear properly? This whole encounter reminds me of times in my life when I have let fear, trauma, and grief steal my ability to recognize Christ standing right in front of me. Then Jesus simply says her name, “Mary!” And in the hearing of her name, she finally recognized him. There was something in the way he said her name that would have revealed his identity. I’ve tried to imagine what it sounded like. I’ve tried to hear it the way Mary heard it that day. I’ve tried to insert my own name into the scene. Our names are more powerful than we can know. I know for me there have been a few close people in my life that when they say my name in a certain way, I feel found, I feel known, I feel safe, and I feel seen. This is what happened to Mary when her beloved said her name. The cloud of grief was lifted and she could see that which was always there: resurrection! I still find it beautiful and lovely and right that he chose Mary Magdalene to be the first one to see him come back to life. She must have had a very special place in his heart, and like Mary of Bethany, and John, the beloved apostle, their belovedness allowed them to be there even when things were scary or ugly or difficult. Knowledge of our belovedness gives us courage, confidence, grace, and the presence to do hard things. It gives us a special something that helps us show up for the one that loves us. 

Jesus tells Mary, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” This tells me that Mary must have wrapped her arms around him once she recognized him, which is a detail that I just love. What I wouldn’t give to hug my dad. Jesus calls her back into focus, saying we still have work to do. I’m only going to be here for a limited time and I need you to be the one to tell my freaked out friends that I’m alive. I need you to remind them that I am going to my Father, who is also your Father. There’s something about you Mary, in your bold faith, your loyal all in-ness, your tenacity, and your freedom that will get the message across to those stubborn and scared apostles of mine. Would Jesus be able to say the same thing to me? Would he trust me to take him to his beloveds? Is there something about me that Jesus can use to get his message across to the people he places in front of me? Am I willing to let go and announce, “I have seen the Lord”? 

Let this compelling scene between Mary and Jesus be a touchstone for us today. What is it about you that Jesus needs today? How does he say your name? Do you see him standing right in front of you? It is well with my soul. 

Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Lectionary: 603

Reading 1 SGS 3:1-4B

The Bride says:
On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves–
I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will seek
Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find him.
The watchmen came upon me,
as they made their rounds of the city:
Have you seen him whom my heart loves?
I had hardly left them
when I found him whom my heart loves.

OR  2 COR 5:14-17

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.

Responsorial Psalm PS 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R. (2) My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way?
I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel JN 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
"They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don't know where they put him." 

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?"
She said to them, "They have taken my Lord,
and I don't know where they laid him."
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, "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,
"Rabbouni," which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
"Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
'I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.'"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
"I have seen the Lord,"
and then reported what he told her.