Reunion!
John 20:11-18
Ever since March of 2020, for over a year, the opportunity for Ginger and myself to visit with her parents was, at best, very limited. Yes, we could talk on the phone and we could meet with a pane of glass separating us. Over the summer we had the chance to see them outdoors sitting a table 6 feet apart. But never close enough to touch or to hug. Until last week! Finally in-person visits were allowed and we could finally visit with them in their apartment. And finally we could touch and, most especially, hug each other. It was a hug for the ages, one that built up over 12 very stressful months. It was a joyful and a tearful hug, one that you just didn’t want to let go of; you wanted to hold on forever!
Well that is what’s happening in today’s Gospel. Mary Magdalene sits weeping at the empty tomb and the Risen Jesus appears to her. She doesn’t recognize Him until He calls her by name. And then, out of sheer joy, she tries to hug Him and refuses to let go. Jesus has to lovingly remind her to stop holding onto Him and to go and spread the news to all the disciples.
Mary has a very hard time letting go of Jesus just like we can’t let go of our loved ones, especially after an extended separation. But in the end, we, like Mary Magdalene, are all called to be disciples, to be missionaries. We are all called to spread the Good News. The news of the Resurrection is something to be proclaimed, to be shared, not merely kept safe in our hearts. The joy of the Resurrection needs to be passed on; our faith in Jesus needs to be shared. Share and share alike! Spread the hugs!