J 20,11-18

 Stand in God’s presence. God is present here and now, looking upon you with love.

Ask for the Grace: I will beg God our Lord that all my intentions and actions may be directed purely to the praise and service of His Divine Majesty

Fixing a place, a picture for meditation: Garden – see what it looks like, what plants, flowers, trees grow. There is the tomb of Jesus. Mary Magdalene is standing there and she is weeping.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for meeting Jesus the Risen Lord

1. Whom are you looking for?

Mary Magdalene cries because Jesus, her Master, is not in the tomb. This cry can express her pain, suffering and longing. She doesn’t know where to find Jesus. But he is with her, he is talking to her and she does not recognize him. Maybe Jesus comes differently than she expects? Who are you looking for?

2. She turned and said to him (…) Teacher.

Mary Magdalene was staring at the tomb, looking for Jesus who she remembered. She had created an image of her Master to which she was attached. Only breaking away from this image, i.e. turning around, allowed her to recognize the one she was looking for. Maria Magdalena was open to the novelty, that it may be different than always. Her turning around made her meet Jesus.Today you hear your name and turn away from focusing on your way of acting to the news of Jesus, who

is our hope, and in a wonderful way he brings youth to our world, and everything he touches becomes young, new, full of life. (cf. exhortation Christus Vivit, The Holy Father Francis, point 1,2).

3. Message.

Jesus makes Mary Magdalene an apostle, lets her go to people and declare that Jesus is alive. That was her mission, which she got from the Risen Christ. You and I are the ones who give Jesus- that is the Love:

His is “a love that does not overwhelm or oppress, cast aside or reduce to silence, humiliate or domineer. It is the love of the Lord, a daily, discreet and respectful love; a love that is free and freeing, a love that heals and raises up. The love of the Lord has to do more with raising up than knocking down, with reconciling than forbidding, with offering new changes than condemning, with the future than the past”. (cf. exhortation Christus Vivit, The Holy Father Francis, point 116)

What is causing this fragment in you (how does it affect your feelings, thoughts, desires …)? What does Jesus invite you?

4. Encounter in the garden.

Jesus’ tomb was in the garden (John 19:41). The garden is a common theme in the Bible, the first people Adam and Eve were created in the garden of Eden, the garden of delight. The garden symbolizes the place where God’s presence is manifested. Each person has his own inner garden where the Risen Jesus waits to meet him/her. Look at your garden, see what it looks like, what is blooming, what is starting to grow and what needs watering. In your garden, recognize Jesus as Mary Magdalene recognized him, because He is in you, he is with you and he never abandons you. However far you may wander, he is always there, the Risen One. He calls you and he waits form you to return to him and start over again. (cf. exhortation Christus Vivit, The Holy Father Francis, point 1,2).

Meditation: St Ignatius encourages in The Spiritual Exercises No. 2 … Because not so much knowledge, but internal feeling and the taste of things please and saturate the soul, that is, we stay where we feel interior movement … and nervously do not try to go on.

The final conversation: Spend a little time at the end, being with God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit….as you would with a good friend: sometimes talking, sometimes listening, sometimes being together in silence. Speak to God about your feelings. Remember that times when ‘nothing is happening’ can also be significant. When you’re ready, end your prayer by saying thank you or using words that are familiar, such as the Lord’s Prayer (Our Father)–whichever feels right and comfortable. (The Spiritual Exercises No.54)