When Mary Heard Her Name
Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb, her grief so consuming that even the presence of angels did not distract her from her singular focus: finding the body of her Lord. She mistook Jesus for the gardener in her profound sorrow - a beautiful irony, as He who created Eden now stood as the gardener of new creation, cultivating resurrection life where death once reigned. The moment captures the intimate pattern of divine revelation; God meets us in our humanity, often in disguise, waiting for our recognition.
When Jesus speaks her name - "Mary" - everything changes. The personal address cuts through her grief and confusion, revealing the living Christ before her. In that sacred moment of recognition, we witness the power of being truly known by the risen Lord. This encounter reminds us that resurrection faith is not merely intellectual assent to doctrine but a personal relationship with the One who calls us by name. Mary's response, "Rabboni," expresses not just recognition but a profound soul-connection that transforms her sorrow into joy.
Yet Jesus instructs Mary not to hold onto Him, for He has "not yet ascended to the Father." This command points to the new reality of resurrection - Christ is establishing a different kind of presence, one that will soon encompass all believers through the gift of the Holy Spirit. Mary must release her previous understanding of Jesus to embrace the fuller reality of His resurrected presence. Similarly, we too must sometimes release our limited conceptions of Jesus to receive the greater gifts He offers.
Mary Magdalene becomes the "apostle to the apostles," carrying the revolutionary news to the disciples: "I have seen the Lord." Her testimony bridges Jesus' earthly ministry and the birth of the Church, showing that proclamation flows naturally from encounter. As the first witness of the resurrection, Mary embodies the mission of all disciples - to meet the risen Christ in the garden of our lives and then, transformed by joy, to announce His victory over death to others. In following her example, we too become heralds of hope in a world hungering for rebirth.
From Tears to Testimony
In the garden where grief took root,
She searched among shadows and stone.
"Woman, why are you weeping?" asked angels,
While Mary stood weeping, alone.
"They've taken my Lord," she answered,
Then turned to a figure nearby.
"Gardener," she pleaded through her tears,
"Tell me where his body may lie."
"Mary," he spoke - just her name -
And recognition bloomed like spring light.
"Rabboni!" her heart overflowed
As darkness transformed into sight.
"Do not hold on," the risen Lord cautioned,
"For I must ascend to my Father above.
Go tell my brothers what you have witnessed -
The triumph of life and of love."
So Mary, apostle to apostles,
Carried sunrise to those locked in night:
"I have seen the Lord!" she proclaimed,
The first herald of resurrection's light.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
