I Have Seen the Lord!
Reflection on John 20:1-2, 11-18
In the stillness of early morning, Mary Magdalene walks to the tomb with a heavy heart. The One she loved and followed had died a cruel death, and now even His body seems to have been taken. Her grief is overwhelming, and all she can do is weep outside the empty tomb.
This moment in John 20 is profoundly human. Mary represents all of us when we are broken, when our expectations are crushed, when God seems absent and all we can do is cry. But it is precisely in this depth of sorrow that the risen Christ reveals Himself—not with grandeur or spectacle—but through a deeply personal encounter.
Jesus calls Mary by name.
This simple gesture changes everything. Her sorrow turns into joy. Her confusion into clarity. Her despair into hope. “Rabboni!” she exclaims. The Lord is not dead. He is risen!
Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness of the Resurrection and the first messenger of this Good News. She runs to the disciples not with theological explanations or proofs, but with a testimony: “I have seen the Lord!” That experience becomes the foundation of her mission.
In this passage, we see the deep personal love Jesus has for each of us. He knows our name. He calls us even in our darkness and confusion. His resurrection is not just a historical event; it is a personal encounter meant to transform our lives.
As Catholics, we are invited to be like Mary—to seek the Lord even in pain, to recognize His voice in our lives, and to proclaim with joy, “I have seen the Lord!” This encounter often happens through prayer, Scripture, the sacraments, and service to others. In each, Jesus speaks our name and reminds us of His living presence.
Let us not cling to the past, as Jesus told Mary not to hold on to Him, but rather go forward in faith, sharing the hope of the Resurrection with others. The empty tomb is not a place of fear—it is the beginning of a mission.
Key Takeaway:
Jesus meets us personally in our pain and confusion, calls us by name, and sends us to proclaim the joy of His Resurrection. Like Mary Magdalene, we are called not only to believe, but to bear witness: “I have seen the Lord!”
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