+JMJ
Dear Parishioners,
A Blessed Easter to you! He is risen! He is risen, indeed! Alleluia! Did you know that in the Tradition of the Church, there is the long-standing belief that the first appearance Jesus actually made after the Resurrection was to His Blessed Mother, Mary? I know it's not in Scripture, but everything does not have to be in Scripture. Do you remember the last verse of the Gospel of St. John? Here it is: “There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” So, it's obvious that people in Jesus' day knew that there were things that did not get written down. It certainly makes sense that they could still be handed on by oral tradition, doesn't it? Well, there is a strong tradition that the first appearance Jesus made after the Resurrection was actually to His blessed Mother, Mary.
It is very strange that Scripture has no account whatsoever of Jesus meeting His Blessed Mother after the Resurrection, but I believe it had to have happened. Jesus was in total control of who saw Him and who didn't. Perhaps it couldn't be written down – just as the details of the Resurrection itself – because it was simply too glorious and mysterious to capture in words.
I first learned of this tradition when I went through Saint Ignatius of Loyola's 30 Day Exercises. The first meditation Saint Ignatius has the retreatant do after the Resurrection is to consider Jesus meeting his Blessed Mother. This was one of the most powerful meditations for me from the entire month!
Imagine everything that has formed the Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Everything from the Annunciation to the Tomb. Everything that has shaped Her Heart. Imagine how profoundly She perceived both the human and the divine beauty of Jesus. She perceived Him more deeply than any other person ever has or ever will. She shared the suffering of Jesus more deeply than any other person ever has or ever will. There are so many other insights the Holy Spirit could give you in prayer regarding the relationship of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Jesus. Meditate on the Blessed Virgin Mary as deeply as you can, and then imagine what it meant for Her to lay eyes on Her Son, as He came to Her risen from the dead. The joy in Mary's heart at this moment is almost beyond imagining! But, go ahead and try to imagine it, and see what the Holy Spirit does in your own heart!
Have a blessed Easter season!
In cordibus Iesu, Mariae et Iosephus,
Father Poggemeyer