Archives » July 22, 2008

The story is told of Franklin Roosevelt, who often endured long receiving lines at the White House. He complained that no one really paid any attention to what was said. One day, during a reception, he decided to try an experiment.

To each person who came down the line and shook his hand, he murmured, “I murdered my grandmother this morning.” The guests responded with phrases like, “Marvelous! Keep up the good work. We are proud of you. God bless you, sir.”

It was not till the end of the line, while greeting the ambassador from Bolivia, that his words were actually heard. Nonplussed, the ambassador leaned over and whispered, “I’m sure she had it coming.” (Source unknown)

Like the people in Roosevelt’s receiving line, we sometimes don’t hear the obvious. Concerned about our own impression, convinced that we are right, or self-preoccupation can silence the other’s voice. Fortunately Mary Magdalene knew how to listen—especially when her name was called.

Last at the cross, Mary Magdalene is first at the tomb. Rabbinic tradition held that mourning for the dead was at its greatest on the third day. Mary’s grief is intense. She hopes that closeness to the grave will somehow ease the separation.

Grief beyond grief blinds Mary to the presence of the angels. Even when she looks at Jesus, she cannot see him. Mary expects to find a corpse; she does not expect to see the living Christ.

But then it happens. He calls her by name. At that instant Mary knows that the crucified Lord lives. Jesus assures her that “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”

We, too, belong to the inner circle of divine love. Do you believe that the Lord calls you by name? Not some abstract invitation; more like the phone call of someone who treasures hearing your voice. Someone who just wants you to know they care; someone just checking in; someone asking you to join them for a special event.

Let’s learn from Mary. When dreams fall apart, when loss knocks us down, listen for his voice. Take comfort. Expect to hear from him. He is near.

Permalink | Categories: Living the Gospel Everyday

What will it be like to hear my name spoken by you, Jesus? Given your immeasurable love for me, it has to be an experience totally unlike any other in this world. I remember those special instances in life where the sound of my name made my heart leap: the first time my beloved used it (or vice versa), the first time my child said “daddy” or “mommy”, the first time my teen said “I love you”…those are the moments I never forget. It literally begins a new phase of life for me, just as it did for Mary. Mary….thank you for your great witness of love, and for all you did for Jesus. Rev. Herb Yost, CSC

Permalink | Categories: Prayer of the Day

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending 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 she told them that he had said these things to her. Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

The New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Permalink | Categories: Gospel Reading of the Day