A sower went out to sow....

Poor Mary Magdalene. Some think she was a prostitute, others claim she had a love affair with Jesus, and others make this story to raise money. The gospels tell us only that Jesus had healed her from a physical illness. In gratitude, she stood near the cross, was first at the tomb, and dedicated the rest of her life to her beloved Master. Her loyalty is amazing and inspiring. No wonder that the Risen Lord graced her to be the first to whom He appeared.

The Lord gently made her aware that, after His resurrection, many things had changed. He entered a new mode of existence and His disciples had to learn to see Him beyond His physical appearance. If He could not be seen physically, touched by hands, He would present under signs and symbols. He was present not just for one person or a limited group of persons, but for the whole world.

The lovely encounter between the Risen Lord and Mary teaches also that whoever really loves the Lord must be ready to be sent by the Risen Lord to share the experience of having “seen” Him. We do not see Him physically. We see Him in faith. We see Him in the Church. We see him in people who are deeply touched by Him and make Him visible.

Every baptized person is supposed to be a missionary. It begins the parents who share their faith with their children and lead them to a future personal encounter with Christ in faith. A family that prays together and lives with Christ as spiritual center becomes missionary to the neighbors and relatives. So does a healthy Christian community that reaches out in love and so proclaims that Jesus is alive. A Christian who refuses to take part in corruption and cheating on the job but lives honestly and upholds Christian values “preaches”, without words, that Christ lives. But first we have to allow ourselves to experience Christ in our own lives and cease claiming Him for ourselves only.