“Do not cling to me,” are words that might seem quite harsh to those,
like Mary Magdala, who love Jesus so much and were filled with intense grief,
but at his risen appearance are asked to hold back. Jesus has not, all of a
sudden, become like an Englishman, who prefers not to be so demonstrative with
regard to affections! So what is happening here?
Well of course the Resurrection has occurred! And this is not just a
resuscitation of Jesus’ body (like Lazarus being raised from the dead) but a
wholly new way of being human. So of course the way in which people relate to
the risen Christ is now different. Yes it will be a human way of relating but
it will necessarily be a spiritual way. Eventually of course, after the
Ascension, the risen Lord will not be seen until the end of time, but only seen
through the sign of the Sacred Body and Precious Blood of the Eucharist. The
disciples must relinquish the physical presence of Jesus with which they were
so comfortable. From now on the disciples of Jesus must embrace Him in a secret
and marvellous way through prayer and faith. Mary Magdalene here may well
represent the contemplative spirit of the Church and thus shows us how we are
to embrace the whole of Christ.
Fr Ian
