Jesus saith to her: ‘Do not touch me, for I am not yet ascended to my Father. But go to my brethren and say to them: I ascend to my Father and to your Father, to my God and to your God!’” (John 20, 16-17).
First Prelude:
Picture Magdalen recognizing her Divine Master and kneeling at His feet.
Second Prelude:
I pray Thee, O my Jesus, to cleanse my love of all selfishness, that in prayer and at work I may seek only Thy greater honor and pleasure.
First Point
Jesus Rewards the Love of Mary Magdalen
Magdalen is in the presence of her Divine Master; still, she does not recognize Him. Love glows in her heart, but her faith is yet imperfect. The Lord, moved by the tender devotion of this loving soul, speaks the word “Mary.” At once there arise in the heart of the happy penitent all the remembrances of the divine intimacy, and in an exuberance of bliss, she can say only the word, “Rabboni!” Oh, the infinite love of the Sacred Heart for Magdalen, who, though more guilty than the rest, knew, according to the words of our Lord, how to love more! This was the reward of her fidelity in following Jesus to Calvary to the foot of the cross; for her great concern about Him even beyond the grave, permitting herself no rest till she had again found the sole object of her love.
Do we, like Magdalen, seek Jesus, our heavenly Bridegroom, with all the ardor of our desire? Do we not grow despondent and discouraged, if, be it on account of our unfaithfulness, or to test our love, Jesus deprives us of all interior consolations? What joy must it cause our Blessed Saviour to find souls, constant and persevering in giving Him marks of a true, self-sacrificing love! In due time He will refresh them with His sweetest consolations, verifying the words of the prophet: “The Lord is good to them that hope in Him, to the soul that seeketh Him” (Jer. 3, 25).
Second Point
Jesus Commissions Magdalen to Tell the Disciples of His Resurrection
As soon as Magdalen had recognized her Divine Master, she was eager to embrace His sacred feet. How great her desire to pour out her heart to Him, and to taste, to the fullest extent, of His divine presence! Jesus, however, does not permit her to do so, to teach her that the time of consummate bliss had not yet arrived. “Touch Me not for I am not yet ascended to my Father.” There we, too, shall find unspeakable happiness for our sufferings and hardships and the labors of our holy vocation. “Go, tell my brethren and say to them: ‘I ascend to My Father and to your Father: to My God and to your God.’” Thus the Saviour speaks to this valiant and self-sacrificing soul. He knows that the disciples are sad and dejected and He wills to console them. Mary Magdalen should bring them the glad tidings of His resurrection and prepare them for His speedy apparition.
Let us learn from this, how pleasing it is to God to interrupt exercises of piety in holy obedience to devote ourselves to our duties, to comfort the sorrowful and to assist the needy; in general, to practice the works of charity. Let us, therefore, not be dejected when we are compelled to leave Jesus, as it were, in order to discharge the duties of our holy calling. It is far better to be obedient and humble; more meritorious to labor for God and to make sacrifices for Him than merely to enjoy his consolations. Who loves God sincerely, is not satisfied with giving Him his own heart, but is desirous of gaining for Him the love of as many hearts as possible. He would make all participants in the pure joys with which Jesus compensates His faithful servants.
Oh, that we would profit by the precious counsels offered us in this meditation! That like Magdalen we would correspond to the love of Jesus and thus worthily fulfill the injunction of the Lord, to serve Him in the poor, the sick and the children entrusted to our care!
Affections:
O my Jesus, speak to my heart, as Thou didst speak to Magdalen: say but one word to me and a light shall flood my soul. I will recognize Thee, my beloved Master, and my soul will be inundated with heavenly transports. Thou wilt give me the peace that no one else can give. With the happy Magdalen prostrate at Thy feet, I adore Thee as my Saviour and my God, and pledge to Thee my love anew. Strengthened by Thy grace, I will make the souls redeemed by the Precious Blood participants in the heavenly treasures wherewith Thou hast replenished my soul that they, too, may know Thee and praise Thee for all eternity.
Resolution:
In all my actions I will seek only the pleasure of God.
Spiritual Bouquet:
“I have found Him Whom my soul loveth. I will hold Him and never more leave Him.”
Prayer:
O Jesus, living in Mary . . .
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