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The Easter Cycle
The former sinner, the penitent, is the chosen one of the Lord. She is allowed to see Him
because she has loved much and because she remained to seek Him. The sign of real virtue is
perseverance. “He that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved” (Mt 24:13). Would that
we had such a longing for Christ as Magdalen had! Would that we could love as she loved! Our
hearts are filled with worldly desires, and we have little room left for Christ. We are so attached
to the foolishness and emptiness of the world that we have no love for Christ.
“Why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” Christ asks Magdalen. She thinks that it is the
gardener addressing her, and she says to Him, “Sir, if thou hast taken Him hence, tell me where
thou hast laid Him, and I will take Him away. Jesus saith to her: Mary. She, turning, saith to
Him: Rabboni (which is to say, Master).” She then casts herself at His feet, seeking to kiss and
embrace them. Now she thinks she will never lose Him whom she has found. Christ does not
permit this expression of her love. She has more important duties now. “Go to My brethren and
say to them: I ascend to My Father” (Gospel). Mary obeys at once. She tears herself away from
Him whom she loves and brings the glad news to the apostles. “Congratulate me, all you who
love the Lord; for He whom I sought has appeared to me. And I saw the Lord as I wept at the
tomb, alleluia, alleluia. Although the disciples went away, I did not leave, and glowing with the
fire of love for Him, I burned with longing for Him. And I saw the Lord as I wept at the tomb,
alleluia, alleluia” (Responsory at Matins).
Today the Lord appears to us in the Mass and calls us by name as He once called Magdalen. He
called us by this name first when we were baptized. Today we should come to the Communion
rail with a longing similar to Mary’s. We must persevere even when He appears to withdraw
from us and when He no longer allows us to experience the comfort of His presence. We should
submit our heart to all His wishes and all His desires.
When we have recognized Him and received Him in Holy Communion, we also become
apostles. Our mission is to love our neighbor. By our zeal in the practice of fraternal charity we
give testimony to the world that Christ is risen and that He continues to live and work in us,
the members of His mystical body. Having done penance, Magdalen now knows only the joy
of possessing Jesus. We must share her joy.
Prayer
O God, who hast united different peoples in the confession of Thy name, grant that there may
be one faith in the mind and one piety in the deeds of those born again in the waters of baptism.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Friday
Today we are led by the neophytes to the church of St. Mary of the Martyrs. Here we behold
Mary surrounded by a glorious group of martyrs. She is the same one whom we greeted a few
days ago under the cross on Calvary as the Sorrowful Mother, the Queen of martyrs. Today we
take part in spirit in the appearance of Christ which is related in the Gospel.
Jesus appears to His disciples. “At that time the eleven disciples went into Galilee, unto the
mountain where Jesus had appointed them; and seeing Him, they adored; but some doubted.
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