Allow me to remind you of two words which were exchanged in today's Gospel.  Jesus said to
Mary Magdalen, "Mary!" and she said to him, "Rabbouni!" (which means teacher). Mary and
Rabbouni.

Those two words said it all. They recognized each other. They called each other by name. Can you not just imagine the powerful emotion that must have been present between Jesus and Mary? All grief disappeared, all despair vanished like the wind, all sadness was now just a bad memory.

Easter means that Jesus will never forget our names. We will never just become a distant
memory. Even after our deaths, we will be called into happiness by that most precious of words -
our name. This is Easter. Jesus has wrestled with death and has won. He is risen and with us - now,

today and forever. And through his resurrection, he promises us our resurrection.

Mary Magdalene received a strong hint of the
resurrection when Jesus freed her from her
demons. She started living with a new life. I'm sure that Jesus wants to give us some taste of that resurrected life even as we live on this earth. How many times in our life have we received something as a sheer gift; how many times has newness come into our lives; how many people have loved us when we needed it most - these and so many other signs show us the presence of the Risen Christ in our lives.

Through our love and compassion, may we also be signs of the new life of Christ for our brothers and sisters. Easter blessings to all of you.

         Peace, Fr. John