“Whom My Heart Loves” by Callie Nowlin

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
Steps to Lectio Divina

Start by using these steps to reflect on the Scripture verse. Then read my meditation slowly.
Lectio: Having asked for the grace to hear God’s word, read the passage twice.
Meditatio: During the second reading, pause whenever so moved and reflect on a word, a sentence, or an image that strikes you.
Oratio: Speak directly to God, and open your reflection to Him.
Contemplatio: Listen contemplatively for any response God might choose to make. Remember that God responds to us at times with loving silence.

The Scripture
From the Gospel for July 22, 2017, the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. (John 20:1-2, 11-18)

On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene 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.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.'”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.

Reflection
Today we celebrate one of the Lord’s closest followers, St. Mary Magdalene. And I have to be honest, this year was the first time I heard Mary Magdalene’s heart breaking as she cries out repeatedly, “I don’t know where they laid him.” She seeks, “Him who her heart loves” (Song of Solomon 3:4). She searches, thirsts, yearns, and mourns for Jesus. And when Jesus comes to her and calls her by name, she turns to Him in reverence and in familiarity both.

Yearning for God in prayer is a true gift from God to join Him in a deeper relationship, for it is He who first yearns for us. It is He who first desires our friendship. It is He who first waits for us in prayer. But we cannot forget that it is from this yearning, and from this deep well of prayer, that we receive our mission. For like Mary Magdalene we are called to yearn for Jesus as a deer for streams of water, for Him who alone satisfies.

But for this to be authentic it must not stop there. For as we see in today’s reading, immediately after she finds the object of her yearning, Jesus tells her to, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and tell them…” She is immediately given the mission to be an Apostle to the Apostles, to tell the Twelve that Jesus is alive.

He has truly risen, as He has said. Alleluia, Alleluia.

In art this scene is called Noli Tangere, or literally “Do not touch me” in Latin. Jesus exhorts Mary Magdalene to not hold on to her understanding of who He was before the crucifixion. Instead his will is that she be transformed by the encounter and so be ready to proclaim his Resurrection.

Spurred on by her example and her intercession, may our hearts long to find Him, rejoice in meeting Him, and be transformed by Him as we are sent out to proclaim His Word.

Originally published by NTC.