Hold on to Jesus

Today’s Gospel Text:  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb; 12 and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. 13 They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "Because they have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." 14 Saying this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. 15 Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?" 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." 16 Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rab-bo'ni!" (which means Teacher). 17 Jesus said to her, "Do not hold me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brethren and say to them, I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God." 18 Mary Mag'dalene went and said to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:11-18

Reflection: Mary’s post resurrection experience could have been one of the most beautiful experiences ever: Imagine Mary of Magdalene having a peep into the darkest tomb and she having seen two angels, one sitting at the head and the other at the feet where the body of Jesus was laid.

That may have been really a peaceful and beautiful sight to behold; for who can see an angel and not experience the peace of the angel and yet she does not recognize them.   

She fails to recognize his voice too; the most soothing voice until Jesus calls her by name even though the Lord stood a little behind her. Maybe she did not recognize him, in all probability, in keeping with her single hearted mission 

If not the term 'Lord', she needed to use the more humble words "Rabboni (teacher)" in keeping with her sorry state; for she needed to learn from the great teacher the truths of life and after life, the truth about God and his nature.  

He was the resurrected Jesus whom she has encountered and she was not to hold him as yet; thus the first lesson on spirituality from the teacher:   The words of Jesus seem to communicate that she could hold him once he has ascended to his Father.

And that is what all believers in Jesus Christ the resurrected Lord, are supposed to do. He who was particular is going to be universally available to everyone who believes and that too in a particular way.

He will be much more available and closer to us than he was before his resurrection and that is how he becomes Emmanuel; God with us.

“(In saying, "He ascended," what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)”  Eph 4:9-10,  and that primarily includes the ones who believe beginning with Pentecost. 

Prayer:  Lord, we believe that you are with us now and even comes to dwell in us. Fill us that that we may never feel your absence, especially in our trials and sorrows.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us