"But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?’ She thought it was the gardener and said to him, ‘Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni,’ which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, ‘Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord,’ and what he told her." (Jn 20:1-2, 11-18 NABRE)
Sometimes we don't recognize the presence of the Lord in our lives. Like Mary in today's Gospel, we often fail to see God even when He's directly communicating to us. Jesus stood before her and she did not know it was Him. How often do we miss what God is telling us because of this! How often do we wander from His will for our lives because we do not see Him or where He's leading us?
Yet, once Jesus called Mary by name, she recognized Him and did what He asked of her. Mary recognized His voice and His call, and she obeyed the Savior. She told His disciples that she'd seen the Lord and that the Lord was risen!!
As with Mary, Jesus is always calling us by name. Yet, are we listening? Like Mary, are we watching and waiting for Him with our whole mind, heart, and soul? Are we truly making the effort to see Him?
May we listen to the Lord and strive to always see His presence in our lives. May we allow Jesus to guide us in doing His will and like Mary, proclaim to others that the Lord is risen and present in our lives!!
Amen!!!! This is how we should be praying for our nation and leaders.