"They Have Taken Him” Series

Tuesday of Easter Week 2020

“They Have Taken Him”

There are very few Gospel scenes more touching than the one we just heard. Mary Magdalene–from whom Jesus had cast multiple demons–owed everything to Jesus. But she had stood with His Mother, Mary, and the disciple John, and had watched the Romans and Jewish leaders drive Jesus to death. It was a cruel and sadistic death, nailed naked to a cross that was probably soaked with the blood of dozens of criminals. She had watched Him die, and then as a final humiliation probably had His blood and water sprinkled over herself when the soldier jabbed His Sacred Heart with a pilum. But it wasn’t the final nail jabbed into her heart–oh, no. When she and others went to the tomb to anoint His body before the three critical days were finished, they found an empty tomb. Through her tears she saw angels asking her “why are you crying?” What kind of idiot question is that? “The so-and-so’s who murdered Him now have stolen His body and I don’t know where He is.”

She is understandably distraught, and as she turns around sees a gardener, without knowing this fellow is THE Gardener, the one who planted the first garden in Eden. “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” Notice that the Risen Christ seems to like rhetorical questions. But He wants Mary to ask for what she needs. And what she needs is not a what, but a Who. Mary Magdalene needs the same person we all do, because we all have been oppressed by demons as she was, because we all have sinned. And we either hammered in the nails by our selfish or unforgiving deeds, or we ran away instead of standing with Jesus Christ when the world assaulted Him or His teachings.

But Jesus honored Mary with the first mission, to go and proclaim His Resurrection to eternal life to His apostles. The Fathers of the Church call Mary Magdalene the “apostle to the apostles,” because of this witness. She went to those men who were cowering in the upper room, convinced that they would be next, rounded up and condemned and either stoned or crucified, and told them the truth, in simple words. “I have seen the Lord.”

And in this first reading from the Acts, we see the scene about fifty days later, when the coward Peter stood up and proclaimed the first Pentecost Jesus sermon. Many hundreds have gathered, attracted by the apostles’ witness in the gift of tongues. Peter interprets what they are seeing. He tells the story of God’s plan of salvation, of rescue. He quotes the prophet Joel, who foresaw the gift of the Spirit that the onlookers have just seen and heard. He reminds them of what they had seen or at least heard about at Passover, just a little over a month earlier–of how Jesus of Nazareth had performed mighty signs of power. And he tells them “He did great and wonderful, good things for you, and you used the Romans to murder Him.” But God raised Jesus up as another prophet–King David–foresaw in the psalms. And then Peter uttered words that the authorities, either Roman or Jewish, would consider monstrous, blasphemous, treasonous: “God has made him both Lord and Messiah, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Then, instead of rising against the apostles and stoning them to death, they yielded to the Holy Spirit working in their hearts. The Greek word used here is “pierced” or “stabbed” in the heart. It’s a feeling that most adults know. You have harmed someone, or done something really wicked, and you are caught red-handed. That’s the feeling–of guilt, of remorse–the beginning of repentance. When they ask what to do, they learn the key to responding to the Holy Spirit.

It’s not to say, “Oh, it wasn’t so bad” or “No harm, no foul” or “It was a long time ago.” No, when we are guilty of sin, we have to take responsibility. If you leave sin alone, it festers and makes your life a living hell, a living hell that can extend into eternity. Peter tells them to turn themselves around, to change their minds and their purpose. “By baptism, take on you the forgiveness that was the hallmark of the ministry of Jesus. Both you and your children.” Oh, that was a sermon. Three thousand people turned their lives around that day, such is the power of the Resurrection and the forgiveness of sin.

What may be binding your heart today? What past action may be making you depressed? Confess your sin, repent of it with the firm purpose of giving it up forever. Jesus can forgive anything, and as a bonus, give you the power of the Holy Spirit to do good.