Tuesday within the
Octave of Easter
(Acts 2:36-41; John 20:11-18)
In listening to the gospel today, two questions come to
mind. First, why does Mary Magdalene have difficulty
recognizing the risen Lord? Second, why
does Jesus tell Mary not to cling to him?
Answering these questions gives a better understanding of the
resurrection.
Mary does not recognize Jesus because the resurrection has
transformed him. He does not have the same kind of body as before he died. It has been eternalized. It is more than cleansed and more even than restored
with blood. It is recreated so that it
beams life. As a meager comparison, we
might think of the difficulty of recognizing a formerly shiftless youth who just
undergone basic Marine training. His body
now vibrates energy.
The resurrected body is not to be clung to because it
does not belong to this world. Its
eternal nature belongs with the Father in heaven. When Jesus has ascended, he will send his
Spirit which has a place among us. That Spirit
guiding, inspiring, and informing us will be Jesus’ abiding presence to us. It
will lead us to eventual full union with Jesus.
