Weeping at the Tomb

Composed by: Sr. Caterina

The truly amazing thing about sacred Scripture is the multi-layers of truth that can be gleaned from a single passage.  While reading the Gospel for Easter Tuesday, I found myself reflecting upon Mary Magdalene,   “weeping outside the tomb.”  We know, from the text, that she was greatly grieved at not having found Jesus in the tomb where they had laid him after his death on the Cross.   Heaven intervened twice in this scene by asking Mary, “Why are you weeping?”

I was pondering this “weeping at the tomb” and I found myself reflecting upon the metaphorical “tombs” in my life that I am weeping over and that do not contain any life within.  I have spent hours weeping at the tombs of lost relationships, unrealized dreams, life’s many twists and turns that I never saw coming, and the tomb of “this is not how I thought my life would be.”  The Lord was showing me that I have been weeping and mourning long enough and that I have been “holding onto things” that are part of a tomb that is empty and lifeless.   I see the Lord’s great mercy in asking me to say farewell to these “losses” and to grieve no more at their tombs.

If I keep peering into these lifeless tombs, I cannot recognize Jesus present and actively engaged in my life.  Jesus wants me to ascend with Him to the heights of the Father; however, I have been clinging to a past that serves no purpose other than to sadden my spirit and to keep me from hearing Jesus call my name.  Life’s griefs have dulled my ability to perceive the Lord.

When scripture speaks truth to us, it cuts to the core of our being.  When Jesus says to Mary, “stop holding on to me,” I can apply this to the frequent visits to my tombs.  “Stop holding on to the empty tombs” in my life.  Jesus wants me to see Him and to see His Father so that I can experience a resurrected life of healing and hope.

Mary no longer peered into the empty tomb and she came to recognize Jesus and her grief turned to joy!  She joyfully announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord!”  Just as the tomb could not contain Jesus, I cannot dwell there either.  Our past does not define us, nor do we have to bring the hurts and disappointments into the present.  We have a great Teacher in Jesus.  Not only does He resurrect from the tomb, but He leaves behind the burial cloths that bound Him in death.  His death shroud has no part in His resurrected life.  So too, with us.  We cannot be tethered to the past and the things that rightfully belong in the tomb.  The Lord has a better plan that is before us.  Look to Him who will gently navigate us away from our lifeless tombs.  The past is the past – allow it to rest peacefully and disturb us not. 

Requiem in pacem!

Image Source: Station of the cross, Saint Symphorian church of Pfettisheim, Bas-Rhin, France. XIXth century. Detail of the 13th station : Mary Magdalene weeping.