These reflections are a result of more than 40 years of ministry as a Roman Catholic priest. Most of these years I spent in the Diocese of Charlotte which covers Western North Carolina. Now I am retired, and live in Medellín, Colombia where I continue to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Medellín.
Jesus said to her, “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her. (Jn 20:11-18)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040726.cfm
Today’s encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord is the conclusion of the Easter Sunday gospel. She is the first to receive an appearance. In the distant past, some wrongly identified Mary Magdalene with the woman caught in adultery. That has been corrected, and the title the ancient church gave her has been affirmed. Mary Magdalene is the “Apostle to the Apostles.” https://youtu.be/kJQI8mBpsnM?si=vn7M6JMwWoi_jzi_
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” (Jn 20:1-9)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040526.cfm
Christ is risen, He is risen indeed. Alleluia, Alleluia!!! ¡FELICES PASCUAS! https://youtu.be/rMwPEmUMP7U?si=JSRv81qlRNFesC10
Then the angel said to the women in reply, “Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He has been raised from the dead, and he is going before you to Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.” Then they went away quickly from the tomb, fearful yet overjoyed, and ran to announce this to his disciples. And behold, Jesus met them on their way and greeted them. They approached, embraced his feet, and did him homage. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go tell my brothers to go to Galilee, and there they will see me.” (Mt 28:1-10)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040426.cfm
O wonder of your humble care for us! O love, O charity beyond all telling, to ransom a slave you gave away your Son! O truly necessary sin of Adam, destroyed completely by the Death of Christ! O happy fault that earned so great, so glorious a Redeemer!—Exultet (The Easter Proclamation) https://youtu.be/wNIJcbywGyA?si=ObhSFQZAhFxgjN9U
Standing by the cross of Jesus were his mother and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary of Magdala. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple there whom he loved he said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home. (Jn 18:1-19:42)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040326.cfm
The Twelve have fled. Peter denied him. Judas betrayed. Only his Mother, the Faithful Women, and the Beloved Disciple are with Him. Dying on the Cross, the new family of grace is born.
So when he had washed their feet and put his garments back on and reclined at table again, he said to them, “Do you realize what I have done for you? You call me ‘teacher’ and ‘master,’ and rightly so, for indeed I am. If I, therefore, the master and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you a model to follow, so that as I have done for you, you should also do.” (Jn 13:1-15)
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/040226-Supper.cfm
As I have done for you, you should also do. We don’t get to pick and choose when it comes to Jesus. Trying to turn Jesus into a justification for violence and war has been condemned by Pope Leo. We are called to follow Jesus. We are called to wash each other’s feet, to get low and serve one another and not exalt ourselves and lord it over others. https://youtu.be/mgdIspwSjgY?si=mzgELPA6rMHYsWC1
