Mary Magdalene Persevered outside a Tomb… and She found Life

“Mary Magdalene stood weeping outside the tomb.” (John 20:11) Peter and John had come to the tomb, and had seen everything, but they had already left. She persevered in prayer, and so she could see much more. First she saw the angels, then Jesus Himself.

How many more graces we would receive if we persevered a little bit more in prayer. For example, after Communion, or after Mass, to take a little bit more time to be with the Lord. Or at home, to spend more time in silence or reflecting on what we have read in the Bible. How many more things we would see and hear from the Lord. Mary stood weeping outside the tomb and she merited to see Jesus Himself.

Sometimes we don’t realize that Jesus is speaking to us because we are too focused on our own ways or our own problems. Mary Magdalene could not recognize Jesus because she was looking for a dead body. Mary had a plan, to anoint the body of Jesus, and she did not realize that the plan of God was different, and much better. Mary had a problem—Jesus had died—and not even His body could be found, and in her great pain she did not expect Jesus to be alive, to be with her and taking care of her.

Jesus—before she even knew that it was He who was speaking to her, asked her two questions: "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" By asking her these questions, Jesus made her desire of Him increase, because the more you thirst, the more you will search and so, the more you will get. In response, Mary Magdalene asked: “Where have you laid Him?” Where is my Jesus? Jesus answered the place: “Mary!” As if He were saying: “You, Mary, are the place. Are you looking for Jesus? Jesus is with you, Jesus is in you, you are the place where I live. I am not dead, I am with you.”

All of this happens for us in Holy Communion. We are looking for happiness and cry to the Lord for consolation in Communion. Where is my Jesus when I am suffering? Jesus answers: “I am with you and within you in Communion. My resurrected body is within you. I did not promise you a life without troubles, but I did promise to be with you, and to give you My strength to overcome the world. I am with you. Happiness is to love and to be loved. If you have this, and if the one who loves you is your Lord, you have enough and to spare. People who have things but not Me are not happy. People who have Me are always happy, if they love Me with their whole heart. I am the Life, and in this Eucharist, I am with you. Love me, and I will love you, and there is nothing you shall lack. God alone is enough.”

Jesus also said to Mary, “Do not hold onto Me”. Jesus in the Eucharist seems to say to us also, “Do not hold onto Me.” Do not think that this is the end of it. “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” (John 20:17) My presence in the Eucharist is just an anticipation of Heaven. I am going to prepare a place for you. My Father is your Father, what He is doing for My resurrected body now He will do also for you.

The joy of the Resurrection is a real joy: Mary Magdalene cried tears of joy. The joy of the Resurrection is permanent: Jesus will never die again. The joy of the Resurrection is different, unique: it makes people cry of happiness, of love, of repentance; it makes people pray, it makes life different, it makes possible every other joy.

How many beautiful things Mary Magdalene received because she stayed, she persevered outside the tomb! How many times our prayer seems to be like talking to a tomb, to someone who does not respond! May God teach us to persevere in prayer a little bit more, like Mary Magdalene. May we encounter Jesus in our prayer, may we learn to hear His voice, may we rejoice at His presence within us, and may we find Him at last—and forever—in Heaven.