Homily on John 20:1–2, 11–18 : Mary Magdalene : love meets the LOVE ( 22-7-25)

 “When Love Waits at the Tomb: A Homily on the First Witness of the Resurrection”

Praise be to Jesus Christ 

Many years ago, during a war, a young woman waited daily at the railway station. Her husband had gone to serve in the army and had promised, “When the war ends, I’ll return on the first train I can find.” The war dragged on for years. People told her he might not come back. Some said he had surely died. But every morning, without fail, she stood by the platform, holding a small bag and a flower. Months passed, then years. People began to laugh at her faithfulness. One day, a soldier passing through the station asked her, “Why do you keep waiting here?” She replied, “Because love remembers promises. And I believe he will come.” One misty morning, long after most had given up hope, the train arrived. And from it stepped the one she had been waited for, with grey hair, scars, and tired eyes, but still hers. And she was there to meet him.

This is the spirit of Mary Magdalene in today’s Gospel. She stands outside the tomb not because she understands the resurrection. Not because she expects a miracle, but because love does not walk away. It waits, it weeps, it searches, and this kind of love is never forgotten by God.

Others had come to the tomb, seen it empty, and left, but Mary stayed. That is the word we need to give special attention: stayed.  Love stays even when all signs say it is over. Love stays when people say, “There is no point.” Love stays when even God seems silent.

Mary’s love was not loud or perfect, but it was persistent. She had once been broken and lived in darkness. And it is Jesus who had brought her into the light. Now that He was gone, she did not know where else to go, except to the last place, tomb, she had seen Him. Even if it meant facing only His burial place, she stayed. And because she stayed, she became the first to see the Risen Lord.  She simply waited in love near the empty tomb with tears, and she was found by Love Himself.

In our own lives, we often walk away too quickly. We pray for a few days, and when the answer doesn’t come, we stop. We hope for something, and when it is delayed, we get tired. But Mary Magdalene teaches us that love that stays, even in silence, even in pain, is the kind of love that sees the Resurrection.

There is a beautiful moment in this Gospel where Jesus calls her by name: “Mary,” Just one word. But in that word, the whole world changed. Love knows how to recognise the voice of love. It was not a grand miracle that convinced her, but it was the voice.  God does not just raise the dead or heal the sick but He also calls us by name. And we need to remember that He does not come to those who run fast, but He comes to those who stay close.

We need this love today; in families, where people leave too easily, in faith, where many stop believing too soon, in mission, where discouragement can lead to silence. However, if we can learn to stay like Mary, to stay near the Lord even when it seems there is nothing left, then we, too, will hear Him calling our name and we, too, will witness the power of resurrection in our day today lives.

In the early Church, there were many heroes. However, it began with one woman’s tears, with one woman’s waiting, and with one Lord who saw in her a love too deep to ignore.

Lord Jesus, teach us to stay in love even when everything around us tells us to leave.

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God Bless…