The Ardent Heart of Mary Magdalene: A Love Story Found
Father Diego Ruiz, I.V.E., in his homily today at St. Joseph's Catholic Church here in Emmitsburg, Maryland, beautifully reminded us how Mary Magdalene’s search in the Gospel of John mirrors the passionate longing sung in the Song of Songs. It is a reflection that reminds us how love, when rooted deeply in the heart, drives us beyond fear and despair, leading us to unexpected encounters with the Divine.
The Unyielding Search for the Beloved
Picture Mary Magdalene: in the quiet darkness before dawn, drawn not by understanding but by love. She goes to the tomb, unaware of the Resurrection but moved by an aching desire to be near the One her soul loves. The Song of Songs echoes this tender pursuit: “On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves; I sought him, but I did not find him.”
When she discovers the empty tomb, her instinct is to run to the disciples, crying out: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” Her grief is not just sorrow for loss—it is the desperation of a heart seeking its Beloved and not yet knowing He is closer than she dares to hope.
“My Lord”: A Love Made Personal
Mary’s tears outside the tomb reveal the depth of her devotion. When the angels ask why she weeps, she answers, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” Notice the shift: no longer simply “the Lord,” but “my Lord.”
As Father Diego shared, this change reveals something beautiful and deeply human—a love so personal that it dares to claim Christ not as a distant teacher, but as the One her heart belongs to entirely. It is the language of intimacy, echoed in the Song of Songs: “Him whom my soul loves, have you seen him?”
“She doesn't say they have taken the Lord, but rather they have taken my Lord. This speaks to us of that very personal desire that Mary had to encounter Jesus and the intimate relationship that she has with the Lord.”
The Moment Love Calls by Name
In her desperate longing, Mary even pleads with the one she mistakes for the gardener: “If you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Love does not calculate; it moves the heart to speak impossibilities.
Then comes the moment of grace: Jesus simply calls her name—“Mary.” In that instant, love recognizes Love. Just as the Song of Songs beautifully says: “I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves.” Overwhelmed, she turns and cries out, “Rabbuni!”
Even as Jesus gently says, “Stop holding on to me,” it is not a rejection. It is an invitation: to embrace a love deeper than physical presence—a communion that reaches beyond her to all hearts open to receive Him.
“Go and announce this beautiful news that what you desire, that the desire of your heart, that communion with me is a gift that is being offered… to all my disciples.”
Mary Magdalene, once brokenhearted, becomes the first herald of the Resurrection. Her love transforms her mourning into mission, and her encounter with Christ becomes hope for the world.
A Call to Seek with an Ardent Heart
Mary Magdalene teaches us that love for Christ is not just about seeking answers—it is about seeking Him. When faith becomes deeply personal, when we dare to say “my Lord,” even our sorrows can become doorways to encounter.
May we, like her, search for Christ with hearts that do not tire, recognize His voice when He calls us by name, and share the joy of His living presence with those still searching. For in Him, the deepest longings of our souls find their answer, and the love we discover becomes a gift to the world.
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