22/07/2021

In celebrating the Faith and Love of St Mary Magdalen, we go to that moment when all was lost for the disciples. She with the other Marys had seen the moment of death which terminated all hope. Jesus was no more. Peter's weakness had been made manifest. Judas had sold him. Only John had remained with the women until the death. 

Nobody had anticipated that Jesus' hints of his resurrection would become the reality that Mary was the first to witness. Nobody witnesses the resurrection. This first witness didn't instantly recognise Jesus. We are in an empty space of History and those who had organised the Crucifixion rapidly began stories that were more acceptable to their Old Testament culture and beliefs 

The pattern for Jesus' appearances is established in this first encounter. First the unknowing, then a joyful recognition followed by a departure. This first encounter also has the strongly physical element that St Thomas demands as the price of his belief "Don't hold me" has been the subject of many paintings and meditations and all sorts of nonsense have been speculated out of this scene.

We have not seen the Living Lord but have the special grace to maintain our belief promised by Jesus. The Church has to proclaim what in terms of our humanity is an impossibility. The Church from the first days had to present a justification of the belief; the first  preachers had known the human Jesus, They had seen him crucified. John and the women had seen the moment of death and the placing in the tomb. They too had been shocked by the Resurrection but their total commitment to the resurrected Christ was able to convince thousands who had not seen; to convince millions throughout history that  the resurrected Lord is still with us and has "appeared to Simon".

Dear Lord let this day be a holy one  and let me dedicate the work of my hands to caring for the wonder of your creation that is your world.