In Rome, there are many churches. In those churches, there is a lot of history. Part of that history includes some interesting relics. There are so many relics that some of them are tucked away in corners and you might miss them! You might be simply walking around, admiring the beauty of the space and happen upon an incorrupt body in a glass casket, or a pillar in the corner labeled (in print you can barely read) as the column where Christ was scourged. In the church of St. John of the Florentines (have you ever even heard of that one?!), there is a relic that at first seems strange: a foot. A golden foot with a small sign that tells you this is the first foot to enter the tomb of the risen Christ. That’s right – the foot of St. Mary Magdalene.
Today we celebrate the Feast of Mary Magdalene, whose love for the Lord has her seeking him and him alone. She is undeterred by the risk of being arrested and apparently unmoved by the presence of two angels speaking to her. These are somewhat understandable, if we consider her laser-focus on finding the only One she is seeking. But then she turns away from the tomb and Jesus is right there before her, but she still insists that she can’t find him. She mistakes him for the gardener! She is not satisfied until Jesus says her name, and then she recognizes him at last.
Mary does not recognize him at first because she is looking for a dead body. She could not know that Jesus was alive, glorified, and back to work! When she does recognize him, she wants him to remain right where he is, right near her, so that her love can be satisfied. But Jesus tells her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Jesus still has more to do in order for his Kingdom to be well-established in this world and for his work of salvation to continue – he must give the apostles his authority, firmly establish the Church to conserve and hand on the Gospel and the sacraments, and send the Holy Spirit to safeguard and enliven the Church throughout time. He must return to the Father in order to send the Spirit to transform the world.
What are we looking for when we seek Jesus? Are we looking for Him in the wrong place, expecting the wrong thing, even demanding that He respond in a certain way? Then we will be disappointed, dissatisfied, and distraught. But if we are open to His presence in whatever way HE wills to reveal Himself, our seeking will always be rewarded because we will receive Him as He is, receive what He is giving us right here, right now. Let’s ask Mary Magdalene to intercede for us, that we may have the grace to seek Him and see Jesus clearly in our lives each day.
En Roma, hay muchas iglesias y dentro de esas iglesias hay mucha historia y parte de esa historia incluye algunas reliquias interesantes. ¡Hay tantas reliquias que algunas de ellas están escondidas en las esquinas y es posible que uno ni las vea! Puedes estar caminando, admirando la belleza del espacio y te encuentres con un cuerpo incorrupto en un ataúd de vidrio, o un pilar en la esquina etiquetado como la columna donde Cristo fue flagelado. En la iglesia de San Juan de los Florentinos, hay una reliquia que a primera vista parece extraña: un pie. Un pie de oro con una pequeña etiqueta que te indica que es el primer pie que entró en el sepulcro de Cristo resucitado. Así es, el pie de Santa María Magdalena.
Hoy celebramos la Fiesta de María Magdalena, cuyo amor por el Señor la lleva a buscarlo a él y a nadie más. No se deja intimidar por el riesgo de ser arrestada y aparentemente no se conmueve ante la presencia de dos ángeles que le hablan. Es algo comprensible, si consideramos que su enfoque era solamente encontrar a Jesús. Pero luego se aleja de la tumba y Jesús está justo allí enfrente de ella, pero aún insiste en que no puede encontrarlo. ¡Ella lo confunde con el jardinero! No está satisfecha hasta que Jesús dice su nombre, y por fin lo reconoce.
María no lo reconoce al principio porque está buscando a un cadáver. Ella no tenía cómo saber que Jesús estaba vivo, glorificado y de vuelta al trabajo. Pero cuando lo reconozca, quiere que permanezca justo donde está, cerca de ella, para que su amor pueda ser satisfecho. Pero Jesús le dice: “Deja de aferrarte a mí, porque aún no he ascendido al Padre”. Jesús aún tiene más por hacer para que su Reino esté bien establecido en este mundo y para que su obra de salvación continúe: tiene que dar a los apóstoles su autoridad, establecer firmemente la Iglesia para conservar y transmitir el Evangelio y los sacramentos, y envíar el Espíritu Santo para salvaguardar y vivificar la Iglesia a lo largo de los tiempos. Tiene que volver al Padre para enviar al Espíritu a transformar el mundo.
¿Qué estamos buscando cuando buscamos a Jesús? ¿Lo estamos buscando en el lugar equivocado, esperando algo equivocado, incluso exigiendo que responda de cierta manera? Entonces estaremos decepcionados, insatisfechos y angustiados. Pero si estamos abiertos a Su presencia en cualquier forma en que desee revelarse, nuestra búsqueda siempre será recompensada porque lo recibiremos tal como es, recibiremos lo que nos está dando aquí y ahora. Pidámosle a María Magdalena que interceda por nosotros, para que tengamos la gracia de buscarlo y de ver claramente a Jesús en nuestras vidas día por día.
Kathryn Mulderink, MA, is married to Robert, Station Manager for Holy Family Radio. Together they have seven children (including Father Rob), and seven grandchildren. She is President of the local community of Secular Discalced Carmelites and has published five books and many articles. Over the last 30 years, she has worked as a teacher, headmistress, catechist, Pastoral Associate, and DRE, and as a writer and voice talent for Catholic Radio. Currently, she serves the Church by writing and speaking, and by collaborating with various parishes and to lead others to encounter Christ and engage their faith. Her website is www.KathrynTherese.com
Feature Image Credit: Submitted by author
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