But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13 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.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 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.’” 18 Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.
In this passage, we encounter Mary Magdalene at the empty tomb, weeping over the loss of her Lord. After discovering that Jesus' body is missing, she remains outside the tomb in sorrow. At this moment, Jesus appears to her, but she does not initially recognize Him, thinking Him to be the gardener. It is only when Jesus calls her by name, "Mary," that her eyes are opened, and she responds with the familiar, “Rabbouni,” meaning "Teacher." Jesus then instructs her not to cling to Him but to go and tell the disciples that He has risen from the dead.
This powerful encounter reveals several themes essential for our understanding of the Resurrection and our spiritual journey.
Personal Encounter with the Risen Christ: Mary’s experience reflects the intimate, personal nature of the Resurrection. She recognizes Jesus not by sight but by hearing His voice, a crucial moment that underscores the importance of Christ calling each of us by name. This encounter exemplifies the Christian belief that our relationship with Jesus is both personal and transformative. The moment Mary recognizes Jesus signifies a deeper awakening—she is the first to witness the living Christ and is commissioned to share this truth with others. This foreshadows our own call to discipleship after encountering the risen Christ.
Jesus’ Fulfillment of Old Testament Prophecies: Mary's encounter with Jesus links back to the Old Testament understanding of God’s intimate relationship with His people. In Isaiah 43:1, God declares, “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name: you are mine.” This echoes the personal call Jesus extends to Mary. Additionally, in John 10:3-4, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, calls His sheep by name, and they follow Him, reinforcing the idea that recognizing Christ involves hearing His voice and responding.
A New Creation and the New Adam: Jesus’ words to Mary to “go and tell” reflect the missionary mandate that parallels the calling of the first humans to "be fruitful and multiply" (Gen. 1:28). Just as the first Adam’s fall led to the suffering and death of all humanity, so the New Adam (Jesus) brings redemption through His Resurrection. This moment at the tomb signals the new beginning of creation, where Mary, as the "apostle to the apostles," becomes the first to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ victory over death.
The Role of Faith: This passage also highlights the role of faith in recognizing Christ. Mary’s initial inability to recognize Jesus emphasizes that faith often begins in uncertainty, but through divine revelation, we come to deeper understanding. This is reminiscent of the road to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-35), where the disciples recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread after initially failing to see Him.
In this profound encounter, Mary Magdalene’s journey from sorrow to recognition illustrates the transformation that can happen when we listen to Christ’s call. Just as Jesus called Mary by name, He calls each of us to recognize Him, respond to His voice, and share the message of His Resurrection with others. Through this personal encounter, we are reminded of the powerful invitation to embrace the Risen Lord and walk in the newness of life He offers.
Lord Jesus, You called Mary by name and transformed her sorrow into joy. We pray for the grace to recognize You in our own lives. May we hear Your voice calling us, just as Mary did, and follow You with hearts full of faith. Help us to go and share the good news of Your Resurrection with those around us. Amen!
Sources
- McSorley, Joseph. An Outline History of the Church by Centuries (From St. Peter to Pius XII). 2nd ed., B. Herder Book Co., 1944.
- Orchard, Bernard, et al. A Catholic Commentary on Holy Scripture. Feb. 1953.
- Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: New Testament Expanded Edition. Four Courts / Scepter, 2008.
- Faculty of the University of Navarre. The Navarre Bible: The Pentateuch. Four Courts Press, 2017
- Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Prentice Hall, 1990.
- Charpentier, Etienne. How to Read the Old Testament. Translated by John Bowden, 1981.
- Komonchak, Joseph, et al., editors. The New Dictionary of Theology.
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