THE CALL FOR LOVE IN LONELINESS
Perhaps all of us have experienced feelings of loneliness and emptiness when we encounter difficulties, challenges, or certain events. Sometimes we give up, regardless of where the flow of life wants to go. That is also the mood of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel, according to John 20:11-18, when she went to the tomb early in the morning with an empty heart to visit the Lord. She is not like the other disciples who are disappointed, or like to leave the countryside, or hide in the house because of fear; rather, she loves God with all her heart, runs to the tomb at dawn, and what did she see? Mary saw the empty tomb, looked in the empty tomb, and then the emptiness filled her soul. The emptiness of the surrounding space combined with the emptiness of her human heart made her speechless and she could only sit down and cry. The cry of despair, boredom, and pain. That state of mind made her mental and physical eyes so blinded and covered that when the Lord rose and stood beside the grave, she did not even recognize him. The empty tomb is a sign of Jesus’ resurrection. Death no longer has dominion over Jesus. Suffering in this life does not make people pessimistic about what has happened, because this life will pass, but the divine life in God is immortal.
It is very natural in everyday life when we love someone, we often remember and call that person’s name. Today, Lord also called “Mary!” That is the type of call that Jesus often called her, but today the call sounds so dear and so close. God has called her name and She said “Rabbouni”, which means “Lord.” She recognized the Risen Lord through her loving voice. From the call, through the call, and with the call, Mary recognized the Master. I thought to myself that Mary was very happy at that moment because the very person that Mary thought was lost is now alive and calling her name. It was in the silent, lonely call that she recognized her Master. Only in the silence of her heart she met the Lord resurrected. This call and recognition of God are the same as Saint Paul’s call to change and recognize God. However, it was not possible for both Mary and Paul to recognize the Lord immediately, but through dialogue and the Lord repeating the words of the Bible. That is why each of us should also read the Bible together so that we can know God more clearly and deeply. Looking back on my life, from the moment I received my baptism, I was called, renewed, became a child of God. In a consecrated life, once again God called me by name to cooperate with him through my vocation to Lover of the Holy Cross and my mission of evangelization. He still calls my name daily, and how many times has He called my name in the silence of prayer, in the depths of sin and tears. He has a calling but I have not yet realized that dear call, because I am still struggling in the hustle and bustle of life. There are many other problems in my mind, so I am not like Mary or Paul, not yet silent enough to recognize the Lord resurrected. Only when I truly love God like Mary or Paul will I easily recognize the Master’s voice?
As Saint Paul once said, “If Christ has not risen, our faith is in vain, we are the most foolish, because we believe in a vain thing”. How many people have sacrificed for the country, for world peace? Many people have lived and died for some sublime ideal. But no one has ever been resurrected like the Most Holy Master. If He did not resurrect, His death would have been in vain, but He resurrected and brought humankind life, peace, and happiness.
Risen Jesus, how many times have I wanted to give up everything. Like a sealed tomb, without hope, the crosses of my life make me sometimes feel lonely and empty, but I still believe that God is waiting for me and promises to meet me in Galilee in my life today. It is the joy of the resurrection that will help to overcome the loneliness and emptiness of your heart. May the cross be a bridge to help us move forward to our heavenly homeland in the future.
Happy Easter- Philippines 2023
Sr Teresa Phương Chinh