Here's What You Didn't Hear At Easter Sunday Mass...

As Catholics, we are celebrating 50 days of the Easter season, beginning of course with Easter Sunday. Just like any other holiday, Easter Sunday is a day typically spent with family and friends. Roast lamb, herbed potatoes, and decorated eggs adorn the table where people are happy and smiling. But for many who are divorced, it is hard to be happy and celebrate. I remember one Easter Sunday Mass in particular I attended during my post-divorce years was definitely a struggle. The old cathedral-style church was unbelievably beautiful with the decorations and a live orchestra accompanied by the choir instead of the usual pipe organ. Christ had risen, indeed, but it took a lot of will power to put a smile on my face that day. It was hard to be in a celebratory mood because it reminded me of what I had lost. If only I had focused on the special message the Gospel reading held for me that day...

I always love the account of the resurrection in John chapter 20 because we get a glimpse of the sheer humanity of the apostles and Mary Magdalene after Jesus' death. We see how, after the women told the apostles Jesus's body was gone, John ran to the tomb and looked inside but did not enter until after Peter had arrived and entered, indicating the apostles already regarded him as the head of the Church. But I love this story more because of what you would have heard if the Gospel had been extended just a few verses... Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and asked her "Why do you weep? Who are you looking for?" And she did not recognize him until he said her name. Mary. Then her eyes were opened and she recognized him and was filled with joy.

There is so much significance in those few verses that is easily applicable to someone who is suffering, as you may be because of your divorce. Whether or not you actually cry, going through a divorce takes an emotional toll on a person that can reduce their outlook on life to just getting by. In other words, it's easy to believe that because you've lost so much and been hurt so deeply that it would be impossible to be happy again, to experience real joy again, so you just resign yourself to the idea that the future will only be mediocre at best. But this kind of mentality keeps us in this sort of emotional limbo where tears do come more easily and the outlook is bleak. Prayer becomes difficult and dry. This is what Mary Magdalene was experiencing in my opinion. "Sir, tell me where you have laid him and I will take him." She was resigned to his death and held out no hope that anything would be different. So there's this sort of parallel between Mary's perspective and the way one might feel after divorce.

And the interesting thing here is that Jesus does not immediately reveal himself to her. He waits to see if she recognizes him. You might say he hid himself from her to see what she would do or how she would react. It can really seem sometimes like God is doing that in our own lives, yes? He's hidden. Silent. And it makes us weep because we need him.

He says, why are you weeping? Well, isn't it obvious Lord? I've been through hell and I need you but I can't find you! My life has fallen apart and I'm trying to put everything back together but I need help! Where are you, Lord?

In the reading, Jesus calls Mary's name and she immediately recognizes him and is filled with joy. You're probably wondering when that will happen for you. It will happen, I promise you, it will happen but only when the time is right. Jesus didn't rise immediately after his death, it took three days—when the time was right. He appeared to Mary, but allowed her to mourn him for three days. He appeared when the time was right. You will feel his presence again at just the right time. This is what he does, he waits to see if we will come to him. He waits to help us build the virtues of patience, perseverance, obedience, faith, trust. But don't give in to discouragement because his timing is perfect and when he shows up, you will be filled with joy.

Count on my prayers for you always, and feel free to reach out with your questions or comments at asklisa@catholicmatch.com.