The Dawn That Follows the Darkest Night

Song 3:1-4a; Psalm: 62; Jn 20:1-2.11-18

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ, today we will reflect on a profound truth that reverberates through our lives, through our struggles, and through our very souls. It is the truth that the dawn follows the darkest night, a promise that the light of God’s love breaks forth even when we feel lost in despair.

As we look to the sacred Scriptures, we are reminded of the ardent longing expressed in the Song of Songs. In Chapter 3, verses 1 through 4, we hear the voice of the Bride, searching desperately in the night for her beloved. St. Bernard of Clairvaux beautifully captures this longing when he states that she seeks in the night because love’s fire burns brightest in darkness. How many of us have wandered in our own nights, searching for something, or someone, to fill the void? Perhaps we have faced personal trials, natural disasters that shake our foundations, or man-made tragedies that tear at the fabric of our humanity. In those moments, we may feel isolated, abandoned, or even broken. Yet, it is precisely in these moments that we are called to recognize that God’s love is relentless. It pursues us with an unwavering fervor, lighting the way through our darkest hours. We see this love manifest most beautifully in the story of Mary Magdalene, a woman who stood at the empty tomb, heartbroken and alone.

In the Gospel of John, we read in Chapter 20, verses 1 to 1,8 about her poignant encounter with the risen Christ. In those early hours, the tomb was empty, and her heart was full of grief. She stood weeping, lost in the darkness of her despair. But as she turned to leave, she heard Him call her by name. “Rabbouni!” she exclaimed in verse 16, recognizing her Teacher, her Savior. In this moment, we see how a personal encounter precedes a mission. Mary Magdalene, once a woman marked by her struggles and shame, became the Apostle to the Apostles. She was the first to witness the resurrection, the first to carry the message of hope, because she allowed herself to be known and called by Him. Pope Francis reminds us that God’s love calls us by name. He emphasizes that Magdalene teaches us that no sin, no grief, disqualifies us from His mission. Mary Magdalene stands as the Patroness of the Broken, of those who have weathered storms and faced darkness.

In our world today, we encounter many who are in need of that light, those suffering from natural disasters like wildfires and floods, those impacted by pandemics that challenge our very existence. We also witness the pain of man-made tragedies, war, abuse, and injustice that leave scars on our communities and our hearts. And let us not forget the personal dark nights that so many endure: struggles with addiction, battles with depression, and the profound loss of loved ones. In these moments of darkness, we can take inspiration from Mary Magdalene. We must seek Christ in the night. Just as she searched for Him, we too must strive to find Him in our own trials. We must not shy away from our suffering or our uncertainty. Instead, we should embrace it, for it is often in our darkest moments that we encounter the light of Christ most profoundly. We must also listen for Him calling our names. Just as Mary recognized the voice of her Savior, we too can become attuned to that divine whisper. It is a personal encounter that transforms us. It is a reminder that we are never alone and that we are always loved. In our pain, we can hear Him saying, “I am with you always.”

Finally, we must run with her missionary zeal. With the same fervor that Mary Magdalene ran to share the good news of the resurrection, we too are called to take the light of Christ into the world. We are called to be bearers of hope, to remind others that dawn follows the darkest night. As we leave this place today, let us carry with us the spirit of Mary Magdalene. Let us seek Christ in our own nights, hear Him call us by name, and run forth with the mission to share His love with the world. Let us be a beacon of hope for those who find themselves lost in darkness, for we know that the dawn is always just beyond the horizon. May the love of Christ, which never falters, sustain us in our journeys. And may we always remember that after the darkest night, the dawn will rise again. Amen.

Pope Francis: “Magdalene’s feast tells the Church: go to the tombs! Bring Easter light to those buried alive by despair.”

St. John Chrysostom: “She found life by seeking Death. So too, we find resurrection by embracing our crosses.”

St. Teresa Benedicta (Edith Stein): “In Magdalene, God proves: Love is stronger than death. Carry this fire to a cold world.”

St. Gregory the Great:
“She sought Him dead; found Him alive. She wept for death; announced life. This is the pattern of conversion: grief transformed to witness.” (Homily 33)

St. Thérèse of Lisieux:
“When I feel lost in night like Magdalene, I cling to one truth: He knows my name. That is enough.”

St. Teresa of Ávila:
“Her burning love at the tomb teaches us: seek Christ not with half-hearted prayers, but with your whole broken heart.”