Risen Jesus Appears to Mother Mary

Although not mentioned in scripture, there is a devout tradition that believes that the first person Jesus appeared to after his resurrection was his mother Mary. St. Ignatius indicates this in his Spiritual Exercises. In his meditations on the resurrection of Jesus Ignatius directs that the meditation for the first apparition of the risen Jesus is to his mother Mary.  Saint John Paul II suggested that the absence of Mary from the group of women who approached the tomb at dawn constitute an indication that she had already met Jesus?” (General Audience, 21 May 1997)   These are my thoughts arising from my meditations this Easter. It begins with this scripture text: When Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing near, he said to his mother, "Woman, behold, your son!" Then he said to the disciple, "Behold, your mother!" And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home. John 19.26 Some time the next day could it be that Jesus now raised from the dead appears to Mary? Could it also be that Mary, now staying with John, told John that Jesus was risen, that he came to her and comforted her?  Perhaps John was doubtful of her revelation, thinking that in her grief Mary was imagining things.  Then Mary Magdalene arrives to tell John and Peter that she has just returned from visiting Jesus’ tomb and his body is missing. Peter and John immediately rush off to see what was going on. As they ran to the tomb, might John now be mulling over what mother Mary had told him earlier, that Jesus has risen? The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus' head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.  Then the other disciple, (John) who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet (up until now) they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.  John 20:4-10  He saw (confirming what Mary had been telling him) and believed. Mary the first evangelist of the Incarnation now becomes the first evangelist of the Resurrection of Jesus. MORE INFORMATION: . . . LINK . . .

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