Mary does not recognize the resurrected Jesus when she sees him outside the tomb. She thinks he is the gardener and she says to him “If you carried him away, tell me where you laid him and I will take him.” Then Jesus calls her by name, and she recognizes him immediately. She speaks back to him with a word indicative of their relationship, “Teacher”.
This part of today’s Gospel touched me because sometimes I too don’t recognize Jesus in the moment, or in a situation. And somehow as if in the gentle calling of my name he brings my awareness to, “that which is”. Recently I was struggling with a situation that had occurred. I was “underwater” as I would call it, distressed about the situation, fumbling around and living in the muck, in the darkness. One morning during this floundering, I was reading a devotional reflection and suddenly, it was as if Jesus called me by name and shined a bright light of awareness onto my situation, my internal disposition. He was calling to my attention to, “what is”. I had been focused on begrudging the situation rather than embracing and accepting the reality of the situation and what I could learn from it. It was if he called my name to bring to my attention the opportunity to learn, grow, and be transformed through the situation. I too could have spoken in that moment, “Teacher” because I had a great sense of learning and understanding of myself.
How does the resurrected Jesus call you? What is the name (method/manner) that He speaks to you in that you immediately recognize it as the voice of God? And how do you remain open so that you may understand and respond with the awareness that he is “Teacher”.
Kathy Kemler
I was blessed to serve as the Director of the Creighton University Retreat Center until my retirement in 2025. It was such a gift to see all the graces that flow through the nature-filled space. After a first career in human resources, I attended the Creighton Christian Spirituality Program and received Maasters in Christian Spirituality and a Spiritual Direction Certificate which eventually led me to my work at the Retreat Center in 2021. In retirement, I enjoy continuing my spiritual direction ministry as I accompany others on their spiritual journey and have the honor of hearing how God is working in others’ lives.
I am grateful to participate in the Online Ministries reflections as the Living Word continues to speak directly into my life and others’ lives who seek God’s love, care and wisdom.
