Meditation 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. Around him stands Mary Magdalene and she weeps. Perhaps she is full of fear that her Lord was taken away in the grave, and she does not know where. At some point, Maria hears a voice, it seems like a friend. Someone asks her why she is crying. Maria does not recognize Jesus. Then Jesus says the name of Mary Magdalene. 

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

1. Whom are you looking for?

Mary Magdalene cries because Jesus is not in the grave he was taken away. She does not know where to look for him, where she can find him. But Jesus is with her, he talks to her. However, she does not recognize him. Why is Maria Magdalena unable to meet her Lord? What bothers her, what prevents her from doing so?

Maybe it is anxiety, pain that has so deeply consumed her that she can not see anything more. Or maybe Jesus comes differently than she expects. Who is she looking for?

We sometimes experience our difficulties, confusion, weaknesses, we have our expectations that help or solution comes in a certain way. What is our openness to accepting surprising new situations? Does it sometimes happen with our faith, with looking for God in our lives, our everyday life? We seek and do not find, because God does not come the way we want. He comes just like Mary Magdalene – the way he wants. Remember: 

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).

Who are you looking for? What kind of God are you looking for and who are you finding in your life?

2. 2. 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.

Today, you are an apostole, you get a mission which is reflected in your daily life. What about Resurrection can you take into your life? What new light is throwing the Resurrection on your mission, your life?

3. Encounter.

Mary Magdalene finally recognizes Jesus. She hears her name and turns to Jesus. A meeting follows.

Now you can meet Jesus, maybe you will hear your name, or maybe you will make a gesture. Meet him as you can.

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)