“The Feast of Feet that Run”
Mary Magdalene stands outside the tomb, weeping. First the angels ask: “Woman, why are you weeping?”
Even seeing angels doesn’t stop her tears.
She turns and sees Jesus, and He asks, “Woman, WHY are you weeping?”
She thought he was the gardener. She doesn’t look any further in her own version of reality. In her version of reality - all is lost. Jesus is lost. The future is lost. Hope is lost.
Granted, she has seen some pretty terrible things in the last couple days. The man she loved and thought would redeem her world and save her people was savagely, horrifically, brutally - put to death. And so she is still ruminating on that tragedy; on that loss.
So much so, that she doesn’t see the Power of God right in front of her. She doesn’t take notice of 2 angels - what, like we see them every day? She doesn’t even recognize Jesus when he is standing next to her - asking questions.
She is consumed with her loss; with her version of reality.
Oh, how often I do this! How often I allow myself to descend into doubt, then discouragement, then despair. How often I tell myself that all is lost - even when the Risen Lord is standing right in front of me. As he always is.
That is actually a tenant of my faith. I claim to believe it every Sunday when I pray it out in Mass. But darn if my own version of reality doesn’t win out over and over again when I’m not in a Church pew singing Hallelujahs…
Do I really think that God is NOT able? Do I really think that something, ANYTHING, in my life is outside of his ability? Indeed, quite frequently I realize that I mix the two of us up. Me, with my pea-brain, seems overwhelmingly in control - and God, the Creator of the Universe, stands beside me wringing His hands in worry.
Really?
But thankfully, so often when I can’t get over myself, the Lord just finally has it and says out Loud: “Mary!”. (Or in my case, “Susan!”) “I AM; and I am RIGHT HERE! Give me a break!!!”
Like Mary, I am always so thankful when He does. Because only when Truth breaks through my illusions; does my heart finally rest in peace.
As Mother Elvira Petrozzi says: Easter is the “feast of feet that run.” Everyone goes to the tomb sad, discouraged and despairing. And they leave in excitement RUNNING. Running to tell the world that hope is NEVER lost, discouragement is ridiculous and despair is just plain silly.
Jesus is Risen. Indeed, He is standing right in front of us.