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

Divine Instructions

Scripture/Bible:  That very day two of them were going to a village named Emma'us, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, "What is this conversation which you are holding with each other as you walk?" And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cle'opas, answered him, "Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?" 19 And he said to them, "What things?" And they said to him, "Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since this happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning 23 and did not find his body; and they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb, and found it just as the women had said; but him they did not see." 25 And he said to them, "O foolish men, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" 27 And beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them in all the scriptures the things concerning himself. Luke 24:13-27

Reflection:  What could they have been talking among themselves? Is it the sad event and the suffering that Jesus went through or they may have been discussing from a depressive state having lost someone whom they looked up to as their savior?

In reality it is a post resurrection scene; an event that has made them bewildered and compelled them to discuss; what could this be; visions of Angels, missing body and appearances? There are more in a state of shock and in a dilemma on what to believe.

Yet they did not have conclusive evidence to base their thoughts on anything that is conclusive and concrete. Neither were they on any sort of sure foundation when they were discussing things.

Human nature seeks logic and a sound reason but they deceiving themselves through ill-conceived rationalization is a different question altogether.  To find logic and meaning to life and the things of life is intrinsic to human nature.
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Hence, maybe, they were discussing in order to arrive at some degree of sanity concerning their faith in the man whom they once followed with all their hearts and mind.

The only one who can instruct us in the divine is the risen Jesus and his Spirit, who subsequently also works through the Church, both visible and invisible. 

Allow Jesus in a concrete way to answer the many queries in our heart and mind and he will teach you beautifully because he knows how you think and what will convince you easily. The disciple did that unknowingly and reaped a bounty of wisdom that will surely lead them into eternity. 

Prayer:  Lord, you will instruct me and teach me in the way I should go; (cfr. Ps 32:8)

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