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: It is early morning and it is still dark. This scene takes place in the garden. See this garden, plants, flowers, colors, feel its fragrance. There is Mary Magdalene, who stands at the empty tomb of Jesus. Feel her despair, sadness, see the tears on her cheeks. She is looking for her Lord. She looks into the grave and sees two angels. Listen to what they talk. Notice Jesus standing behind Mary Magdalene. Hear their conversation. Look at Mary Magdalene, who does not recognize Jesus at first, but he will tell her by name and then she knows who is calling her. Find a place for yourself in this scene.

Ask for the fruit of meditation: for my open eyes and hearts that always recognize Jesus

1. Maria Magdalene stands outside the tomb. Feel her emptiness, helplessness. She does not know what happened to the body of Jesus. She is in her pain, she does not go beyond its limits. All she can do is to bent over the tomb, gently go beyond her zone of despair. But that’s enough for her to see something more to see angels. Likewise, her turning around helps her to recognize Jesus.Sometimes you can be so fixed in your matters that you can not see the solution and help. Sometimes the blindness of eyes and hearts will send all the ways out of difficulties. It is worth, then, like Mary Magdalene, turn around to change the perspective of looking. Refer this to your life, to your difficulties. Notice how the perception of your hardships, everyday life changes when you do not close yourself in pain, but give a step forward.

2. Mary Magdalene seeks the body of Jesus, but the living resurrected Jesus stands with her. However, she does not see him and does not recognize him, even during the conversation. She thinks he is a gardener. It is only when Jesus calls her by name she recognizes her Teacher. Jesus does not make Mary’s remorse because she did not recognize him earlier. He is looking for opportunities to meet her. So, he speaks to her by her name, probably in the way she only know. He revives her.Have sensitivity to Mary Magdalene and let yourself hear the cry of Jesus. Allow yourself to this scene of intimacy, intimacy with Jesus. Hear the melody of his voice, tone, timbre. Perhaps you will turn away and see how Jesus looks at you with love and says your name.

3. Jesus after the Resurrection does not appear in extraordinary phenomenons, as wow, but in an ordinary way, normally talking, staying with others. He appears where a man needs him and, as in this scene for Mary Magdalene, he is a consolation. Recall situations in which you felt consolation, felt how your heart moved with joy. See what directly causes this joy and what is the deeper cause of this joy.

4. Jesus sends Mary Magdalene to the disciples with the Good News – he makes her an apostle. He invites her to experience his presence in a new way, to live more and more, to share him with others. It is interesting that Jesus does not let us stay in one place, though not once we would want to have him and impose him a way of coming. However, he does not allow us to be stopped, but he sends us to the community to be founded there. What doses Jesus ask you for today? 

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)