After twenty centuries, Mary Magdalene's gentleness, fidelity and love for Jesus are touching. St. John tells us in the Gospel of the Mass how this woman went to the tomb as soon as the Sabbath rest permitted, while it was still dark, in search of the dead body of her Lord. He had delivered her from the Evil One and grace bore fruit in her heart, she faithfully followed the Master on some of his apostolic journeys and served him generously with her goods. During the terrible moments of the crucifixion, she remained on Calvary, close to the One who had cured her of her ills. Moreover, when Jesus was laid in the tomb, she remained close to him, keeping him company, as we have done, perhaps beside the corpse of a loved one. St. Matthew records it: Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there in front of the tomb5.
After the Sabbath, at the dawn of the first day of the week , she went with other holy women to the place where the body of Jesus was, to embalm it. But the Lord is no longer there: he is risen! She saw the stone rolled away and the tomb empty, and she ran to Simon and the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken away the Lord from the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. Peter and John ran to the tomb and told them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him. Peter and John ran to the empty tomb. St. John tells us that that moment was definitive in his life: he saw and believed8. Both Apostles returned home, but Mary remained there, weeping for the absence of the Body of the Master. With an indefinable sadness, without yet believing in the Resurrection, she perseveres, she does not want to separate from the place where she saw for the last time the adorable Body of the Master.
We consider today "the intensity of the love that burned in the heart of that woman, who did not leave the tomb, even though the disciples had gone away from there. She searched for the one she had not found, she searched for him weeping, and, burning with the fire of her love, she burned with desire for the one she thought had been taken away. For this reason she was the only one to see him then, because she had remained looking for him, for it is perseverance in good works that gives strength to them". Let us not cease to seek Jesus always, even in those moments when, if the Lord permits it, discouragement or darkness penetrate the soul. Let us never forget that He is always very close to our life, even if we do not see Him. He is always near, because, as the Apostle says, "Dominus prope est! - the Lord follows me closely. I will walk with him, therefore, in safety, for the Lord is my Father..., and with his help I will do his gracious will, even if it costs me".