From Need Love to Give Love
Just recently I tried to console a family that was mourning the death of their dog. Among the family, it was the mother who was very much affected. I consoled them, but I hope I made them realize something more. No matter how hard we try, human relationships can never be replaced or supplied by anything, not even by a dog or a cat. Human relationships are incomparable and irreplaceable.
For sure Mary of Magdala didn’t cry for the death of her pet. She cried all the more because aside from the death of Jesus, now the body or her Lord was gone. It doubles her agony, her mourning. Undoubtedly Mary of Magdala loved Jesus beyond all telling. But we ask, was Mary’s love for the Lord already matured? No. Not yet. She was still on the level of “need love”. That’s the reason why she still keeps looking for the lifeless body of the Lord.
All of us in some way are still on the level of “need love.” The Resurrection of the Jesus invites all of us to another level of love. The Lord is calling each one of us this time to “give love.” When the Lord offered Himself on the Cross, he gave us his overflowing and total love. In the first reading, St. Peter is showing to each one of us how to share the overflowing love and forgiveness he received from the Lord after all he had done before.
Let us share our Easter faith!
Amen.
Fr. Edgar Benedi-an, OSM
