Cling to Him

Reflection Tuesday of Easter

We meet Mary Magdalene at the tomb, weeping, in the Gospel today.

She is weeping the loss of Jesus and she just wants to be as close to Him as she can.  She is at the tomb, crying, when she hears a voice she thought was the gardener:

            “Woman, why are you weeping?”

Jesus, understanding the emotional state of Mary, wants to make it clear that it is He that speaks and He calls her by name.

           

“Mary!”

Immediately she knows His voice and calls out to Him in a term of endearment and respect;

           

“Rabbouni”

She clings to him as we cling to people that we miss.  We just want to be able to hug and hold those we so deeply miss and this will be the last hug she gets.

Jesus has to go to the Father, his time and mission is finished here, but, He leaves her with words that reveal, once and for all, that He is the Messiah, the one that came to this world to give new life.

After seeing the horrible crucifixion and death, watching her beloved beaten and bloodied, He comes to say good-bye and reassures her that it was all true and He is Going home.  What an act of humanity.

Jesus leaves her with such joy and peace that she tells the others that she saw the Lord.  This encounter drives home the point that death is conquered and we no longer fear  the death of this world.

Cling to Him!

The others wait for the knock at the door and He will come.