Empty Tomb was not Empty for Mary Magdalene

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season: Sixteenth  Week : Monday*

*Gospel : Jn 20:1-2, 11-18*

*First Reading : Sg 3:1-4b or 2 Cor 5:14-17*

*Feast of Mary Magdalene*

*Empty Tomb was not Empty for Mary Magdalene*

*1) Empty Tomb and Mary Magdalene*

Mary Magdalene is one of the close disciples of Jesus 

She loved Jesus more than anything else and Jesus also love her in a special way 

Love is the only one thing which explains why she was found early in the morning where Jesus was laid in the Tomb 

So there is a close connection to the Empty tomb and Mary Magdalene

*2) Empty Tomb*

Empty tomb is a concept which is associated with the resurrection of Jesus 

When Mary Magdalene came early on Sunday morning, the body of Jesus was not found in the tomb

The tomb was open but then there was no body of Jesus in it 

So the tomb became empty. So this is the concept of empty tomb 

*3) Empty tomb was not Empty*

At the peripheral level empty tomb is totally empty which has nothing 

But for Mary Magdalene empty tomb was not empty. Empty tomb was full of things which finally showed the resurrection of Jesus

So what are the things which were found in the empty tomb for Mary Magdalene?

*4) The Rich things in the Empty tomb*

*Search for the beloved* Empty tomb had this search in it 

*Divine vision* Two angels appeared at the tomb to reveal the good news 

*Great News* The news of the resurrection was found in the empty tomb 

*Emptiness of Jesus* The empty tomb also was full with the reality of the emptiness of Jesus. The emptiness of Jesus was seen everywhere 

*Many Questions* The empty tomb was filled with many questions about the life and death of Jesus

*Fear and Anxiety* The empty tomb also had the aspect of a kind of fear and anxiety in Mary when she saw the empty tomb 

*New Light* Empty tomb was filled with new light. That is the light of Hope

*Dialogue* The empty tomb had a special dialogue, first with the Angels and then with the Risen Lord

*Risen Lord* The empty tomb was filled with the reality of the Risen Lord. From the empty tomb finally Mary experiences the resurrection of Jesus 

*Mission* Empty tomb had a great mission for Mary. Jesus from empty tomb told her to proclaim this great good news to his disciples 

*New Beginning* The empty tomb had the aspect of New beginning in the life of Mary Magdalene 

*Happiness* The Empty tomb had the aspect of Happiness for Mary. When she saw the Risen Lord, her happiness was tremendous. Empty tomb was full of heavenly happiness

*Encounter of Divine and Human* empty tomb had this encounter. Both these aspects we see. Jesus and Mary along with Peter and John. Empty tomb is full of divine encounter

*5) Empty Tomb in our life*

All of us have the experience of empty tomb. 

Never to consider empty tomb as empty. In fact empty tomb is filled with great realities which help us to encounter God and to find the purpose of our life

We need to cultivate the attitude to looking at the empty tomb from a different perspective. 

Am I ready? 

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*