FAITH AND LOVE AS PRINCIPLES OF COMMUNION

Easter Tuesday/2024

Reflection from Friar Nicholas Okeke, OP

Faith and Love as Principles of Communion

The resurrection account from John offers us a different version of the encounter between Mary Magdalene and the Risen Lord. John’s account still supports the necessity of faith for an encounter with the Risen Christ. It also maintained the mediating role of angels in the encounter. The two angels Mary saw inside the tomb first called her attention to the present, for she remained in the past by her persistence in searching for the dead body of the Risen Lord. But because her search was born out of faith in the crucified Lord and love for him, she was ready to receive the Risen Lord. That faith is evident in her expressed ownership of the Lord, whom she thought dead. “‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’” The crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ did not affect the faith of Mary in Jesus Christ because of her love for him, which made her give her whole being to him. This unique love of Mary Magdalene for the Lord held unto him spiritually even beyond the veil of death. This dedication made Jesus reveal himself to her immediately after his resurrection. “Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’—which means Master.” What Jesus said next is very revealing and confirms our position on the unique love of Mary for Christ that was preventing him from ascending to the Father. “Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.” Mary’s plaint to have the body of the Lord was an expression of the strength of her love for Christ.

Faith and love are two strong spiritual chains a rational creature uses to hold unto God. Mary clung to the Risen Lord with her love, preventing him from ascending to his Father. The faith Mary had was born of God the Father. All who have faith and love are born of God by that fact. Hence, Jesus added: “But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” The gifts of faith and love are what the Risen Lord gives to all who come to him. Peter’s proclamation to the people in the first reading was to help them to have faith in the Risen Lord. Faith is necessary for spiritual regeneration in God and the sharing of divine communion in Jesus Christ. They were invited to receive the gift of adoption as children of God by believing in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the crucifixion and death of whom they witnessed. “You must repent,’ Peter answered ‘and every one of you must be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The promise that was made is for you and your children, and for all those who are far away, for all those whom the Lord our God will call to himself.” The Holy Spirit of communion is only given to one who believes in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. An encounter with the Risen prepares a soul for the reception of the Holy Spirit. The event of Mary and our Risen Lord shows that communion is real and possible even now. 

Let us pray: Grant us, Lord, a deep faith in the Paschal mysteries of your Son, that we may enter into deep and loving communion with him as Mary Magdalene did.

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