# Easter Tuesday – Loving Jesus
*2022-09-29*

> Bill reflects on Mary Magdalene’s first proclamation of the risen Lord and what that personal encounter means for our own love of Jesus, especially in the Eucharist.

## Mary Magdalene, Apostle to the Apostles

The Gospel of John (20:18) records Mary Magdalene’s words: “I have seen the Lord.” She is the first to announce the Resurrection to the disciples, making her the “apostle to the apostles.” Scholars such as William Beckley suggest that Mary was chosen because of her great love for Jesus. The whole narrative is filled with signs of that love.

## Recognizing the Risen Christ

When Mary encounters the risen Jesus, she does not recognize Him at first because she is weeping. Yet, when He calls her by name, “Rabboni” (meaning “Teacher”), her love and tenderness enable her to see Him. This simple, personal recognition underscores that the Resurrection is not an abstract doctrine but a lived encounter.

## The Essence of Christian Faith

Barclay reminds us that for a Christian, the essential claim is: “I have seen the Lord.” Faith is not merely intellectual assent or debate; it is a personal meeting with the living Christ. The Resurrection invites us into that certainty of experience.

## Prayer for Deeper Love

All‑Lord Jesus, I want to love you more deeply as I celebrate your Resurrection, especially in Holy Communion. May I truly meet you in the Eucharist. Hallelujah.

*Our faith is rooted in a personal encounter with the risen Christ, just as Mary Magdalene first proclaimed.*