Daily HOMILY for March 29, 2016: Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

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Tuesday in the Octave of Easter

The Institute

March 29, 2016

BOOKEND QUESTIONS ++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  In Chapter 1 of St. John’s Gospel, the first disciples begin to follow Jesus

Ø  Jesus asks them: “What are you looking for?”

Ø  Today’s passage comes at very end of John’s Gospel

Ø  And now the risen Jesus asks Mary Magdalene: “Whom are you looking for?”

Ø  Two questions one at the beginning, the other at the end “What are you looking for?” and “Whom are you looking for?”

Ø  These questions really amount to the same thing and thus they seem to bookend John’s Gospel

Ø  John sees this as the central question posed by Jesus

DON’T CLING +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  I wonder if Jesus’ advice to Mary Magdalen isn’t best advice 4 us in answering this question for ourselves?

Ø  Jesus advises two things:

Ø  1^st he tells Mary “Do not cling to me”

Ø  He wants her — and us — to realize, above all else, that he is the Son and is returning to the Father

Ø  He wants us 2 realize that in answering question it’s the almighty, transcendent God beyond earth, 4 whom we are really looking

Ø  And so he wants us not to cling or hold onto anything in this world,

Ø  But instead 2C see all in relation to what or whom we are looking for to satisfy our deepest longing

MISSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  And Jesus’ 2^nd piece of advice is connected w/ the 1^st

Ø  Jesus tells Mary Magdalene to go and tell others that he is risen and is returning to the Father

Ø  Clearly J wants us 2 live R lives w/ sense of mission

Ø  No matter what we do or what R jobs R, he wants us to see everything from the perspective of mission…

Ø  Of fulfilling his purpose in R personal lives, & telling others abt him, even if we don’t use words 2 do that

Ø  We may simply do this by how we live each day and how we relate to others

CONCLUSION +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Ø  With these two pieces of advice from the risen Jesus, we can be clear about what and whom we are looking for…

Ø  And in doing so, we will find a sense of mission and purpose for our lives

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++