“All life holds within itself a promise of resurrection.”                                                                                         Gabriel Marcel
“...suddenly you know: It's time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings”                                                          Meister Eckhart                                                              

                    Jesus said to her, "Mary!"  Mary turned and said to him in Hebrew,                                                 "Rabbouni, "which means Teacher.       John 20:16

This Gospel passage and the encounter of Mary Magdalene at the tomb touches my heart deeply.   We are invited to see the Resurrection through her eyes.   That is to be with her as she recognizes and responds to Jesus’ invitation.  Mary went to the tomb with sadness, grief, discouragement and doubt and fear and upon recognizing Jesus is filled with belief, excitement, courage and hope and moments of transformation.   Mary was amazed and a bit afraid, but when she heard the voice of the Risen Jesus but she listened deeply to the message of hope.  She came to trust, courage and a realization that Jesus, the Risen one was inviting her to share the Good news.  I wonder what Mary Magdalene felt inside her being.   Ultimately, she said yes to Jesus’ invitation, she surrendered to the call to be the first preacher of the Resurrection and it changed transformed her and brought her strength and great joy.  I like to stay in my comfort zones.   It is however in deep listening to the voice of Jesus in prayer that I surrender gradually to Jesus’ invitation to simply proclaim joy and goodness as Jesus beckons me to do day by day in all the encounters of life.    It is in doing this I find hope, new life and gradual new ways of being.   Mary Magdalene heard the Risen Jesus call her by name and went to tell, to preach the message of the Gospel.   When we listen to the voice of the Risen One, like Mary Magdalene what are we invited to do?  Mary was sent on her mission to preach that Jesus lives.  How are we called to continue to live and preach the Gospel of Easter hope, goodness and joy to those God leads us to?  As joyful contemplative preachers of the Word, how are we called to live this Easter season and always ready to proclaim compassion, hope, and assurance?   How do we hear Jesus calling us each “Beloved” and go forth to preach the Gospel of love in mission with compassion for the needs of the people we meet and the needs of the world today?  Will I and we allow the goodness of the Easter Season to transform us anew to courageously be sent on mission today and always?

             Mary Magdalene, first preacher of the Gospel, pray for us and lead us on.