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Today's Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18

Mary Magdalene is outside the tomb and she is crying, she bends down and looks in and sees two angels, one at the foot and one at the head of where Jesus’ body was. They ask her why she is weeping and she answers, “They have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have laid him.” I love Mary’s focused purpose in this passage. She is not amazed or thrown that two angels are speaking to her, only that she cannot find her Lord.

A moment later, Jesus is standing there speaking with her, she does not recognize him and thinks he is the gardener.

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.”

Again the determination to find Jesus; I believe the example of Mary Magdalene is an important one; nothing will deter her from finding the Lord. She will not be distracted or diverted, even from heavenly beings. Her priorities are straight. Mary has had stumbling blocks in her life: where once she was lost, now she has found Jesus and she will not let him go.

Once we have had the joy that Jesus brings into our lives, sometimes we allow ourselves to lose sight of the glory of God and have to remind ourselves and bring ourselves back to the path. Mary Magdalene does not. Her faith and desire for Jesus never wanes and she like us is rewarded all He said was, “Mary”. And she knew Him.

How joyous to hear Him call our names. The true joy is that He never stops calling us and bringing us back, loving us, forgiving us and embracing us once again.

Ponder:

Do we sometimes let ourselves get distracted by worldly things? How can we begin every day anew, by prayer, Scripture reading? What will help you to start your day close to Jesus?

Pray:

Jesus, I have found you and know that you are the Lord of my life. Please keep me close to you all the days of my life. If I stray from your path, Lord, send your Holy Spirit to bring me back quickly so that I do not lose sight of the joy you bring.

Copyright 2014 Maureen O'Shea