If we were gathered in person, we wouldn’t have this sort of reflection offered by one person. We’d have a simple liturgy with lots of conversations around it. But this year is unusual, to say the least. So, although we may still have conversations with one another, I get to say a few words.
We have two readings to frame our life together, readings we share every year. The Gospel tells the story of Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus and receiving her commission to tell others what she has seen. She becomes the apostle to the apostles. Now, Mary doesn’t have a lot of dialogue in the Gospels, so we need to pay attention when she speaks.
When she recognizes Jesus, she says, “Rabbouni!” Teacher! Jesus is her teacher, her rabbi. She follows him and learns from him, and, when she is commissioned, she shares what he has taught her. I believe that her words to the other apostles were only the first of many times she taught and testified.
As we walk with Mary, we follow Jesus. We learn from him. And much of what we learn is summarized in the Colossians passage. Colossians tells us how to treat one another in the community, but Jesus taught the disciples to proclaim the reign of God everywhere. How we treat one another here in this community is simply a training ground for being with everyone. The point is not to have a lovely oasis safe from the world, but to have a base for moving into the world and calling forth the awareness of the reign of God that is already present.
Mary’s other line is the key to her proclamation. “I have seen the Lord!”
She doesn’t expound doctrine.
She doesn’t explain.
She says what has happened to her, and in so doing she invites us into mystery.
Mystery is our deepest fuel for the journey. It is the destination, but it’s also the source. When we touch mystery we are moved to explore, to journey.
As we journey with Mary Magdalene, we follow into the mystery, hoping to see what she saw and to be addressed as she was. We pray to be given a word to share with others as she was.
So right now, what is your word?
As you sit, can you hear a whisper from that garden?
Your name, spoken like a breeze. A breath.
A presence, real but impossible to box in or reproduce or cling to.
A message. A word, a phrase.
Let the whisper sink into your soul. Carry it as Mary did, in her heart.
I have seen the Lord. Alleluia.
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