The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today exhort us to listen and hear how we are called by name to a deeper relationship with Christ.
The reading from the Acts of the Apostles presents the first converts after Peter’s speech.
* [2:1–41] Luke’s pentecostal narrative consists of an introduction (Acts 2:1–13), a speech ascribed to Peter declaring the resurrection of Jesus and its messianic significance (Acts 2:14–36), and a favorable response from the audience (Acts 2:37–41). It is likely that the narrative telescopes events that took place over a period of time and on a less dramatic scale. The Twelve were not originally in a position to proclaim publicly the messianic office of Jesus without incurring immediate reprisal from those religious authorities in Jerusalem who had brought about Jesus’ death precisely to stem the rising tide in his favor. (Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2, n.d.)
Psalm 33 praises the greatness and goodness of God
* [Psalm 33] A hymn in which the just are invited (Ps 33:1–3) to praise God, who by a mere word (Ps 33:4–5) created the three-tiered universe of the heavens, the cosmic waters, and the earth (Ps 33:6–9). Human words, in contrast, effect nothing (Ps 33:10–11). The greatness of human beings consists in God’s choosing them as a special people and their faithful response (Ps 33:12–22). (Psalms, PSALM 33, n.d.)
In the Gospel of John, Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene.
* [20:11–18] This appearance to Mary is found only in John, but cf. Mt 28:8–10 and Mk 16:9–11.
* [20:16] Rabbouni: Hebrew or Aramaic for “my master.”
* [20:17] Stop holding on to me: see Mt 28:9, where the women take hold of his feet. I have not yet ascended: for John and many of the New Testament writers, the ascension in the theological sense of going to the Father to be glorified took place with the resurrection as one action. This scene in John dramatizes such an understanding, for by Easter night Jesus is glorified and can give the Spirit. Therefore his ascension takes place immediately after he has talked to Mary. In such a view, the ascension after forty days described in Acts 1:1–11 would be simply a termination of earthly appearances or, perhaps better, an introduction to the conferral of the Spirit upon the early church, modeled on Elisha’s being able to have a (double) share in the spirit of Elijah if he saw him being taken up (same verb as ascending) into heaven (2 Kgs 2:9–12). To my Father and your Father, to my God and your God: this echoes Ru 1:16: “Your people shall be my people, and your God my God.” The Father of Jesus will now become the Father of the disciples because, once ascended, Jesus can give them the Spirit that comes from the Father and they can be reborn as God’s children (Jn 3:5). That is why he calls them my brothers. (John, CHAPTER 20, n.d.)
Joan Blandin Howard comments that gardens attract lovers. In the garden, Jesus and Mary Magdalen meet for the first time after Jesus’ death and resurrection. In her grief, Mary does not recognize Jesus. Then Jesus speaks her name, “Mary.” That’s all – just her name, “Mary”. And Mary knows it is Jesus. The risen Christ greeting his beloved Mary.
I invite you to listen in the silence of your heart for Jesus speaking your name. The Beloved speaking the name of His loved one. Easter morning and the un-nameable is complete. In love, Jesus speaks my name, speaks your name, speaks our names- the homeless, the broken, the scabbed, the doubter, the gawker and the faithful. I am loved, I belong and I am dignified.
…. Listen for Jesus speaking your name. (Howard, 2023)
Don Schwager quotes “The Easter Alleluia,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Because there are these two periods of time - the one that now is, beset with the trials and troubles of this life, and the other yet to come, a life of everlasting serenity and joy - we are given two liturgical seasons, one before Easter and the other after. The season before Easter signifies the troubles in which we live here and now, while the time after Easter which we are celebrating at present signifies the happiness that will be ours in the future. What we commemorate before Easter is what we experience in this life; what we celebrate after Easter points to something we do not yet possess. This is why we keep the first season with fasting and prayer; but now the fast is over and we devote the present season to praise. Such is the meaning of the Alleluia we sing." (excerpt from commentary on Psalm 148, 1-2) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on John 20:11-18 asks “Why are you weeping? What worries, problems, or disappointments are weighing on your soul?” Whatever they are, know that Jesus sees them and wants to help us work through them. He wants to help draw our attention to his presence with us. He is there, standing right in front of us. He is risen, and heaven is opened for us!
This message applies not only to your literal death, but also to the “little deaths” you experience throughout your life: the ending of a relationship, for instance, or a necessary move from a familiar home. Jesus can bring new life out of situations like these. He can bring peace to your heart as you turn to him and tell him why you are weeping. He can convince you that sorrow and death don’t have the final word. Even in your darkest times, he is there, planting seeds of new life in you and working to lead you toward joy, both in this life and the next.
“Jesus, help me to remember that you are always with me, even when you seem absent.” (Meditation on John 20:11-18, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler describes the Baptism offered by Peter as our entrance into the life of the Trinity. The number of converts enumerated in the text may have been an exaggeration when the population of Jerusalem at the time is considered. Friar Jude connects the experience of Mary, when called by name, to the Song of Songs as the Apostle to the Apostles represents the Church searching for her lover.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces contemplative theologian Beatrice Bruteau (1930–2014) who describes the profound effect that our participation in the eternal life of God can have on us. For Bruteau, resurrection starts in our lives now and transforms our engagement with the world.
Our joy is not confined to ourselves but radiates out to all. Just as Jesus intended to enter into us, that his joy might be in us and our joy might be full (John 15:11), so neither can we contain our joy: our peace and happiness envelop all those around us. When we interact with people—or circumstances—we do not feel drained of energy, as we did when we were still obliged to protect and defend our ego-self. Perceiving creative action and interaction as reality itself, we feel ourselves fully living, full of the richness of God’s life, the interior fountain that never fails.
The divine life now becomes natural for us, no longer something to be compared to an alternative. We are really “saved” when we no longer think of ourselves as “saved,” because there is no alternative. This is when profound incarnation takes place. The reality of God is intensely perceived as present in everything.… The kingdom is hidden right here, even in the passions and illusions of our superficial consciousness. When we are shaken awake, we see it. (Rohr, 2023)
We ask the Spirit to assist us in recognizing the name by which we are called to join the workers in the field of the Lord.
References
Acts of the Apostles, CHAPTER 2. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/acts/2?36
Howard, J. B. (2023, April 11). Creighton U. Daily Reflection. Online Ministries. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/041123.html
John, CHAPTER 20. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/john/20?
Meditation on John 20:11-18. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://wau.org/meditations/2023/04/11/654773/
Psalms, PSALM 33. (n.d.). USCCB. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/33?4
Rohr, R. (2023, April 11). A New Energy and Joy — Center for Action and Contemplation. Daily Meditations Archive: 2023. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/a-new-energy-and-joy-2023-04-11/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved April 11, 2023, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2023&date=apr11
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