Message of Abbot Paul - Easter Tuesday 11th April 2023
Abbot Paul • April 11, 2023
I have a confession to make. I was so tired after the celebration of the Sacred Triduum, that yesterday I could barely keep awake. In fact, after lunch, I fell asleep on Toby’s sofa and didn’t wake up until just before Vespers. Then in the evening, I had been invited to have supper with Fr Simon and his sister Georgina. As a result, I couldn’t see my way to writing a message last night for today. Forgive me, as it is a wonderful Gospel passage and one of my very favourites, the encounter between Mary of Magdala and the Risen Christ in John, (Jn 20: 11-18). Here is that passage:
“Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to her.”
Mary is called the Apostle of the Apostles. She is the first to speak with the Risen Christ, who sends her to announce his resurrection to his apostles and disciples.
I attach a photograph of an early 16th century Dutch tapestry. In it, Mary wears a sumptuous cloak, shimmering with gilt-metal-wrapped thread. She kneels with her hands extended, her eyes fixed on Christ’s body. Christ raises his right hand, commanding Mary to keep her distance, and presents his wound. As if captured in the exact moment of his revelation, Christ holds a humble spade, though he appears here in his resurrected majesty. Gilded threads blaze forth from his head to create a cruciform halo. It’s a magnificent work. I also attach a few icons.
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