Daily Catholic Lectio. Tue, 22 April ’25. I have seen the Lord

Daily Catholic Lectio

Tue, 22 April ‘25

Easter Octave – Tuesday

Acts 2:36–41. John 20:11–18

“I have Seen the Lord”

According to today’s Gospel passage, Mary Magdalene is standing outside the tomb, weeping and looking into it. After speaking with the two angels present there, she turns around—and sees Jesus standing. Yet, in her eyes, He appears to be the gardener. A conversation begins. At its climax, Jesus says, “Mary!”—and immediately she responds, “Rabbouni” (which means Teacher).

At this point, the Gospel of John notes, “Mary turned around.” But hadn’s she already turned around earlier? If she turned again, would that not mean she was now turning back toward the tomb?

St. Augustine offers a beautiful explanation: “Mary did not turn her body again, but her heart.” That is, while her face had turned to Jesus, her heart was still turned toward the tomb. As long as her heart was fixed on the tomb, Jesus appeared to her merely as a gardener. But once both her heart and face turned toward Him, she recognized Him as the Lord.

Mary’s Recognition of Jesus Occurs in Four Stages:

First, she does not see Him at all.

Second, she sees Him as the gardener.

Third, she recognizes Him as Rabbouni—my Teacher.

Finally, she proclaims Him as the Lord.

Jesus then sends her with a mission: “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

But Mary forgets all of this in the joy of recognition. She simply runs to the disciples and says: “I have seen the Lord!” Only later does she recall the rest.

In the Gospel of John, “seeing” is often a sign of believing. For example, in John 12, some Greeks approach Philip and say, “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” In such contexts, “seeing” marks the beginning of faith.

Thus, Mary’s proclamation becomes the first Easter proclamation in the world. Mary Magdalene is the first to announce the Resurrection.

Let us remember: If both our face and heart are turned toward the tomb, we cannot see the Risen Lord. But if we even slightly turn around, we may find Him standing just behind us— Sometimes as a gardener, Sometimes as a teacher, and sometimes as the Lord.

In the First Reading (Acts 2:36–41): Peter’s speech moves the hearts of his listeners, and they ask, “Brothers, what must we do?”

Their response is immediate. We too, upon hearing the message of Christ, must ask:

“What must I do?” And then respond without delay.

Fr. Yesu Karunanidhi

Archdiocese of Madurai

Missionary of Mercy