In today's Gospel, we read that Mary Magdalene is distraught. She can't stop weeping, believing that someone has carried away the body of Jesus. She is so distraught that she doesn't realize the one she is speaking with is He. How many times do we allow ourselves to be consumed to the point that we don't see the Lord standing before us? It is when He calls her by name, "Mary!" that she is awakened to His presence.
Mary Magdalene wants to keep Him with her, but the Lord tells her no, she must let Him go. The Lord's words, "stop holding on to me," feel harsh. Why does Jesus push Mary Magdalene away? For her to have the deeper, spiritual relationship with Jesus that He desires, he must ascend to the Father. His plan is the greater gift. The risen Lord calls us by name too. He is asking us, as he asked Mary, "what are you looking for?" He invites us to let go of our desires and to seek Him instead, to turn ourselves over to Him and trust that His plan for our lives is the greater gift. #livingeaster
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