Read Online
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept,
she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting
there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus
had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” John
20:11–12
Mary Magdalene was one of the women who accompanied Jesus and the
Twelve Apostles as they traveled from town to town during His
public ministry. Luke 8:2 introduces her as “Mary, called
Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” Being possessed by
seven demons signifies complete possession, illustrating the depth
of her suffering. Though demons cannot touch a person’s soul, they
can afflict the body, which was the case with Mary. While Scripture
does not tell us how she became afflicted, we can imagine the
profound gratitude she must have felt after her deliverance. This
gratitude, joined with her newfound faith, made Mary one of Jesus’
most faithful and devoted followers.
Today’s Gospel offers a glimpse into Mary’s unshakable love for
Jesus. The Synoptic Gospels mention that she was not alone when she
went to the tomb to honor His body. However, John’s Gospel focuses
solely on Mary, likely to highlight her unique experience and
encourage us to learn from the depth of her devotion.
Mary’s early morning visit to the tomb reveals her passionate
love—she could not wait to honor Him, even if only by tending to
His lifeless body. Finding the tomb empty, she immediately ran to
inform the disciples. Peter and John hurried to see for themselves,
with Mary following behind. After the two disciples saw the empty
tomb and left, Mary remained, setting the stage for today’s
passage.
Saint John seems to invite us to contemplate Mary’s actions.
Imagine Peter and John leaving, while Mary remains, seated at the
entrance of the tomb, weeping. Though she did not yet understand
that Jesus had risen, her love for Him held her there, anchored in
the place where He had been laid. In times of distress, confusion,
or uncertainty, we are called to imitate Mary’s steadfast devotion.
Our love for Jesus should draw us spiritually to His empty tomb,
keeping us close even when understanding eludes us.
As Mary wept outside the tomb, she did not know what would come
next. She only knew she needed to be there. Her mind was clouded
with grief, but her heart led her to stay. She remained not out of
reason, but because her heart, filled with love, kept her
there.
In following her heart—consumed with love for Jesus—Mary was led to
a life-changing encounter. When Jesus appeared, she initially
mistook Him for the gardener and, in her passionate longing, begged
Him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you laid
him, and I will take him.” Again, she spoke from her heart rather
than from understanding. But then Jesus called her by name: “Mary!”
In that moment, her heart and mind were united, and she recognized
Him. With this recognition, she saw and believed.
Reflect today on Mary Magdalene weeping outside Jesus’ empty tomb
and then hearing Him say, “Mary!” That she is the first person in
Scripture to see the risen Lord is deeply significant. Clearly, God
desires that we learn from her and imitate her love. Though we
might not have been delivered from seven demons, we have been
delivered from sin. This should stir in us a gratitude so deep that
we willingly abandon all to follow Him. And when life is confusing
or uncertain, we, like Mary, must follow the holy desires God
places in our hearts, so that our love for Christ will lead us
through uncertainty into clarity, when, like Mary, we hear our Lord
call us by name.
My risen Lord, Your empty tomb is a symbol of the longing I must
have for You when I encounter life’s uncertainties. When I am
confused and do not understand where to turn, please flood my heart
with an unshakable desire for You so that my love will lead me to
where You are and where You want me to be. Jesus, I trust in
You.
Image: Christ Appears to Mary Magdalene
Source: Free RSS feed from catholic-daily-reflections.com —
Copyright 2026 My Catholic Life! Inc. All rights reserved. This
content is provided solely for personal, non-commercial use.
Redistribution, republication, or commercial use — including use
within apps with advertising — is strictly prohibited without
written permission.
Kommentare (0)
Melde dich an, um einen Kommentar zu schreiben.