Tuesday within Easter Octave – 06th April 2021 — Gospel: John 20, 11-18
New life for Rabbinical Student
In the garden, Mary fails to recognize Jesus visually, but moments later she recognizes him aurally. Mary’s moment of recognition comes with the mention of her name. Two passages in the gospel are linked to this resurrection story. The first episode is the shepherd discourse that follows Jesus’ interpretation of the healing of the blind man. The sheep know and recognize the voice of the shepherd and he calls them by name (10,3-4). Hearing her name, Mary cried out, “Rabbouni”, which means teacher, the very same title given to Jesus by the first disciples (1,39). With this particular name Mary claims her place as Jesus’ rabbinical student. That she recognizes Jesus as teacher is simultaneously an acknowledgment about who Jesus is and a confirmation of her own identity. She is a follower, a disciple and a sheep, with Jesus as her teacher and shepherd. The second episode is the raising of Lazarus. When he is called by name Lazarus comes out of the tomb. Responding to his name being called, Lazarus is brought to new and resurrected life with Jesus. The same is most certainly true for Mary. Her life will be made new, once again, in the presence and power of the resurrected Christ.
