A Reflection for Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Find today’s readings here.
The Easter season has always felt like a breath of fresh air to me. Aside from serving as the backbone of our faith, there is a certain hopeful energy associated with spring. Especially this year, coming out of such a long winter, I feel more aware of the goodness around me.
Recently, some of that good came in the form of a wonderful group of fourth graders at a Catholic elementary school in Cambridge, Mass. They were exploring ways to incorporate thoughtful and creative writing into their religion class, and I was lucky enough to chat with them about the process of writing Scripture reflections here at America.
This crew blew me away. They were engaged, intelligent, kind and funny. But most of all, they were curious. Almost every hand in the room shot up before I even had the chance to introduce myself! They were so eager to learn more about who I am and what I do. Their enthusiasm brought me so much joy. Not only did it make me feel valued and seen, but it also excited me for the conversation we were about to have. Their inquisitiveness reignited in my mind the importance of asking questions.
In today’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene is asked the same question twice. First by the angels, then by Jesus himself: “Woman, why are you weeping?”
I don’t think her answer to the question was insufficient the first time, nor do I think the angels and Jesus were attempting to pester her. Rather, I believe they asked her this question more than once to emphasize (and then reinforce) the significance of contemplation. These questions were an invitation to reflect.
We often don’t ask enough questions of other people, despite it being the most certain way to learn more about the world. In the same vein, we often don’t take enough time to reflect on important questions of faith, love, vocation and more, despite it being the most certain way to access more information about ourselves.
The questions are a call to be introspective and in touch with our emotions. I interpret “Woman, why are you weeping?” as “Mary, why do you feel this way?” Jesus challenges her to dive even further into reflection to understand her feelings when he asks a follow-up question: “Whom are you looking for?” When we are purposeful in our reflection and committed to growth by digging deeper, we can reach meaningful places of self-discovery.
I’m grateful to my new friends in fourth grade for reminding me to not be afraid to ask questions. The ability to do so is one of the most useful tools we have in seeking to improve our faith lives and daily interactions. We are called to be curious about God, the world, other people and, perhaps most importantly, ourselves.
