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Saint John 20:1-2.11-18.

by Daily Gospel | Source: Daily Gospel

Song of Songs 3:1-4a.
On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves - I sought him but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek Him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him.

The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city: Have you seen him whom my heart loves?

I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. I took hold of him and would not let him go till I should bring him to the home of my mother, to the room of my parent.

Psalms 63(62):2.3-4.5-6.8-9.

O God, you are my God-- for you I long! For you my body yearns; for you my soul thirsts, Like a land parched, lifeless, and without water.
So I look to you in the sanctuary to see your power and glory.
For your love is better than life; my lips offer you worship!
I will bless you as long as I live; I will lift up my hands, calling on your name.

My soul shall savor the rich banquet of praise, with joyous lips my mouth shall honor you!
That you indeed are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John 20:1-2.11-18.

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put him."
But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been.

And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid him."

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.

Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to him, "Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him."

Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher.

Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'"

Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and what he told her.

Commentary of the day
Saint Gregory Palamas (1296-1359), monk, Bishop and theologian
Homily 20 : PG 151, 266.271

"Go to my brothers"

Mary Magdalene is the only one of those who carried spices to Christ's tomb whose memorial we celebrate. Christ had cast out seven evil spirits from her (Lk 8,2) to give way to the sevenfold working of the Holy Spirit. Her perseverance in remaining at the tomb rewarded her with the sight and conversation of angels. Then, when she had seen the Lord, she became his apostle to the apostles. Both taught and completely reassured by God's own mouth, she went to tell them she had seen the Lord and repeated what he had said.

Let us consider, my brethren, how much Mary Magdalene yielded in dignity to Peter, chief of the apostles, and to John, Christ's beloved theologian, and yet to what extent she was more favored than they. These latter, when they ran to the sepulchre, saw no more than the burial cloths and the cloth that covered his head. But she, who had remained to the end with firm perseverance at the door of the tomb, saw before the apostles did, not just angels, but the Lord of angels himself risen in the flesh. She heard his voice and thus God, with his own words, sent her out on his service.