As one begins to read today’s gospel reading, one ought to be immediately struck by the fact that Jesus first appears not to any of his beloved disciples, not even Peter, but rather to a reformed sinner, Mary Magdalene. This former sinner, from whom Jesus had driven out seven demons, had experienced the depth of God’s mercy and who in the depth of her own heart had accepted Jesus as her Lord and Savior. In contrast, the disciples, as Jesus admonishes them, are filled with unbelief and hardness of heart and are reluctant to accept the testimony of others. I would like to focus our reflection on these somewhat contrasting responses that Mary Magdalene and the disciples present to the resurrection of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene having experienced the depths of God’s forgiveness and mercy was able to get over her past sinful ways and embrace New Life. She was in many ways receptive to Jesus’ message of being the resurrection and the life. But it is likely that the disciples would also have been receptive to this message. Why then their unbelief and hardness of heart? One likely reason could be that they, as the disciples of Jesus, would have expected him first to appear to them. This is definitely not an unreasonable expectation. But as we ponder and reflect over this in the context of our own lives, we realize that such a supposition could be a block or obstacle to our encountering the risen Christ in our daily lives. If we think, that because of our baptism, or our privileged status as church leaders, clergy, religious etc. we have a special claim to God revealing himself to us, we become hard of heart and close ourselves to all those ways that God reaches out to us through ordinary people and in ordinary moments of our life.

Let us pray for humility during this Easter season as we live out the challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic that our hearts might be supple so as to experience the risen Christ in ways that we might least expect it.