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In the Gospel of John, we read that Mary Magdalene, who had been healed of seven evil spirits by Jesus (Luke 8:2), went to the tomb after the crucifixion and burial of the one she loved and found her Master gone. In her despair she turned around and saw somebody standing there, whom she did not recognize at first. She believed him to be the gardener. Jesus said to her: “Woman why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?” She said that she was looking for her Master, and could not find Him. And then something strange happened. Jesus only said one word:  “Mary!” And this single word was enough to make her cry out: “RABBUNI”, which means Master. The way Jesus had said this single word was enough to create a spark of recognition. Mary had found her Lord and Master again: quite close by! It seems as if this incident is only an insignificant detail of the whole Easter event. The resurrection is always the centre of the Passion of Christ, but it is also good to ponder on this insignificant incident, the first short dialogue between Jesus and Mary.

And what does it teach us? Why does Apostle John tell us about it? First of all, one word was enough for Mary to find Jesus back in her life, to feel united with Him again, given that this one word was spoken with the fullness of God’s love. One word can change sadness into joy. One comforting word can wipe away tears. One word of forgiveness can mend a bond of love. One loving word can chase the coldness out of the hearts of men. One simple word spoken in the community or the singing of a song can be very uplifting for downtrodden souls. And secondly, Mary Magdalene was looking for Jesus; she said: “They have taken my Master and I do not know where.” But He, whom she was looking for was nearby! A lot of people in this world are looking for Jesus in the distance, while He is quite close. Sometimes we can find Him at a chance meeting, in a simple word of comfort, in a word of encouragement, or in charitable love.

One thing is for sure: We do not have to look for Him in the distance! He reveals Himself to His disciples not in “faraway theories” or in complicated philosophies, nor in deep thinking analyses of bible text, no, He reveals Himself right near us. He reveals Himself in the community, in one of His servants, in a brother or sister, Yes, sometimes in a spoken word or a deed of a stranger who suddenly becomes a friend because he speaks to us with the loving voice of Jesus Christ. CHRIST IS RISEN, and He is right beside us!