By Pater Inutilis

When it comes to Our Lord’s resurrection, different evangelists note different apparitions. Apart from those to the apostles, it is that to Mary Magdalen that captures St. John’s interest. He shows us her coming two times to the disciples, once telling of the empty tomb (Jn. 20:2) and then of having herself seen the Lord (vs. 18). But between these two comings, there was another in the company of other holy women reporting having seen angels telling of His resurrection (Lk. 24:9f). We understand, therefore, that she went with the group of women early to the tomb (Mk. 16:1). Finding it empty, she runs (Jn. 20: 2) to Peter and John, the other women following much more slowly. Two, “Mary, the mother of James, and Salome” (Mk. 16:1) were mothers of apostles; “Joanna… and the other women” (Lk. 24:10) likewise matronly. These ladies, with or without Magdalen returning to them after her first announcement, see angels (in the three synoptics—not the same as Jn. 20:12), which vision they hesitatingly (Mk. 16:8) yet hastening (Mt. 28:8) announce to the apostles. “And these words seemed to them idle tales, and they did not believe them” (Lk. 24:11). This disbelief of the apostles leaves Mary once again quite distraught, and in this distress she returns to the empty sepulcher.

Her first visit to the disciples, however, was not in vain. Peter and John ran to the tomb, that they might verify and act upon the news, the younger arriving before the elder but not entering first (Jn. 20:3-5). The disciples had not understood the prophecies about the resurrection (Jn. 20:9). From what he saw, though, John believed (Jn. 20:8), the first to do so¹ and this without an apparition of Our Lord. No grave robber would have taken such a bloodied corpse, leaving behind all clothing, let alone also folding it up (Jn.20:5,7).

Mary Magdalen had not run this time, but did return to the sepulcher, arriving after the disciples’ departure. She was so full of the thought of Jesus, and this was the last place she had seen Him. She had been thwarted, even in her desire to render His body a last service of anointing (though Our Lord said that she already had done this—Jn. 12:7). Angels appear and ask her the reason for her tears (Jn. 20:12f). “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him” (Jn. 20:13). They are not He, and only He could console her. Jesus comes, quietly, discreetly. She, turning, sees Him but does not recognize Him² (Jn. 20:14). Jesus repeats the angels’ question, adding “Whom seekest thou?” (Jn. 20:15). Where is He, and I will take Him away? She, with a Body, bloodied and lifeless, weighing much more than herself? Thinking Him taken, and that she could carry Him back, she does not have John’s clearheadedness (Jn. 20:8); but she loves much. “Mary” (Jn. 20:16). One word, and all her extreme sadness is turned into inexpressible joy. “Rabboni!” Master! How sweetly Our Lord does this. She would cling to Him (meant by the “do not touch me”—Jn. 20:17), for Jesus wants this joy to be also His apostles,’ and that by her intermediary (Jn. 20:17), who had been “in the city, a sinner” (Lk. 7:37). The place for everlasting embraces will be heaven. “I am not yet ascended to my Father” (Jn. 20:17). “He, rising early the first day of the week, appeared first³ to Mary Magdalen, out of whom he had cast seven devils” (Mk. 16:9). “She hath loved much” (Lk. 7:47). It is again very light of foot that she returns to the apostles, and their disbelief (Mk. 16:11) this time makes not one iota of difference. “I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man shall take from you” (16:22).

St. John then recalls three apparitions of Our Lord to His apostles. The first was on Easter Sunday itself, and the second a week later. When St. Luke relates the first, he emphasizes the apostles’ disbelief and Jesus’ reassurances and proofs that it is He (Lk. 24:36-43). St. John relates what then passed between Our Lord and His apostles, reserving the disbelief and proof of His resurrection for the special case of Thomas. The apostles, therefore, now rejoice too having seen the Lord (Jn. 20:20), and He twice wishes them peace (Jn. 20:19,21). Very delicately, just when they might have feared that the sin of their abandonment of Him was too great, He gives them the power to forgive sins. “He breathed on them, and said to them: Receive ye the Holy Ghost” (Jn. 20:22). The gesture recalls God’s breathing into the face of Adam and giving him life (Gen. 2:7); here, it will be supernatural life. By the judgment and at the word of His priests, sins are remitted (Jn. 20:23) and life is given. Thus Trent, against the Lutherans.

Thomas was not with the others on this occasion (Jn. 20:24) and did not believe them telling him of what had happened (Jn. 20:25). He wanted physical proof. Our Savior, not wanting to lose another apostle (Jn. 17:12), deigns to meet his criteria, appears a week later, and offers the wounds of His side and hands to the touch of Thomas (Jn. 20:26f). “My Lord and My God” (Jn. 20:28); this is a profession of faith in the divinity of Jesus. Thomas has been thinking about what the others have said, and if Jesus is alive and is Master of life and death, then He is God. “Blessed are they that have not seen, and have believed” (Jn. 20:29) is a word of encouragement for us all, a beatitude offered us. The fruit will be His peace, and a joy no man can take from us.

Endnotes

¹ The Blessed Virgin is apart, alone to understand His death and resurrection, and never doubting either. We cannot speak properly of the disciples “losing faith” in the resurrection at the scandal of the cross. It was something they had never grasped, and were afraid to ask about (2:22; 12:34; Mk. 9:30f).

² Most probably, not just because she was teary-eyed (she doesn’t recognize His voice either). Risen, Our Lord appears, unrecognized, until He wants to be known: Lk. 24:16 & 31; 24:37; Jn. 21:4 & 12; Mt. 28:17.

³ First of the public apparitions. That to His Mother is, again, quite apart. “Honor your father and mother.” He always had, and did. Justice too so demanded, that reward be in proportion to merit, glory to suffering.