From Tears to Mission: The Personal Call of the Risen Lord

Voice over by Eliz

Acts 2:36-41, Psalm: 32, Jn 20:11-18

My dear sisters and brothers in Christ,

The joy of Easter continues to unfold, and today the Church gives us two encounters with the transforming power of the Resurrection. One is a crowd of thousands cut to the heart by Peter’s preaching; the other is a single woman weeping in a garden. Both reveal that the Risen Lord meets us where we are—and sends us where we need to go.

In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter stands boldly before the people of Jerusalem and delivers the piercing conclusion of his Pentecost sermon: “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” The response is immediate and visceral. The crowd is “cut to the heart.” They cry out, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter’s answer is clear: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” Three thousand are baptized that day. The Church is born in the waters of repentance and the fire of the Spirit.

In the Gospel of John, we witness a far more intimate scene. Mary Magdalene stands weeping outside the empty tomb. Her tears are tears of love and loss. She has lost her Lord, and even His body has been taken away. Two angels ask why she weeps, but she barely notices them. Then she turns and sees Jesus standing there—but she does not recognize Him. She mistakes Him for the gardener. Then He speaks one word: “Mary.” He calls her by name. In that instant, recognition dawns. “Rabbouni!” she cries, “Teacher!” Jesus then gives her a mission: “Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'” Mary Magdalene becomes the first herald of the Resurrection, the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

Pope Francis often reflects on this personal call: “Jesus calls us by name, because He loves us individually. No one is anonymous to Him.” St. Augustine, contemplating Mary’s tears, wrote, “She wept for a man, and her reward was to hear the voice of God.”

These two readings are one message. Peter speaks to the crowd, but each heart is individually pierced. Mary is called by name in the garden. The Resurrection is not a generic announcement; it is a personal address. Jesus knows your name. He knows your tears. He knows what you have lost, what you seek, what you need.

And for both the crowd and Mary, the encounter leads to a mission. The three thousand are baptized and become the Church. Mary is sent to announce the good news. Easter faith is never a private possession. It is a fire that must be shared.

This day, hear the Risen Lord speak your name. Let Him dry your tears. And then go to your family, your workplace, your community—and tell them, “I have seen the Lord.” For He is risen, and He has called you by name. Amen.

May God bless you all!