Our Lady Is The Perfect Disciple 聖母是那位完美的門徒

Our Lady Is The Perfect Disciple 聖母是那位完美的門徒

Deacon Alex Kwok

All of the four canonical gospels agree that after resurrection, Jesus appeared first to a group of women. Among them was Mary Magdalene. The gospel according to Mark even states explicitly in its appendix that, “When he (Jesus) had risen, early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.” (Mark 16:9) Jesus sent Mary Magdalene to tell the apostles that He’s risen. Therefore, the Church honours Mary Magdalene with a title of the “Apostle of the apostles”!

Naturally, our mind would turn to another Mary, the mother of Jesus. People feel uncomfortable because none of the gospels say anything about Jesus appearing to Our Lady after his resurrection. It’s illogical because Jesus could not breach the Ten Commandments, could He? Don’t worry. The absence of evidence is not an evidence of absence. If something is not written in the gospels, it does not imply that it never happened. John the beloved disciple of Jesus says it well, “Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book” (John 20:30). Therefore, it is not superstition or folk piety to believe that Jesus had also appeared to the Blessed Virgin Mary to bring joy and peace to her. The absence of evidence only highlights the humility of Our Lady! Her silence did not contradict John’s words “in the presence of his disciples” because Our Lady knew her position and she always followed her Son from a distance, even up to Mount Calvary where she ended up standing under the cross to suffer together with her Son. Her faith is unshakable and her love is total and unreserved. Her virtues are simply innumerable. Perhaps it is a good idea to recite the Litany of Loreto【聖母德敘禱文】 in this month of May to familiarize ourselves with the virtues and privileges we find in her.

After resurrection, Jesus did not appear to all people but only to a chosen few to send them out to bear witness for him (Acts 10:41-42). On the first Easter day, Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene to send her to bring the good news of his resurrection to the apostles. While Saul (aka Paul) was on his way to Damascus to wipe out the Christian community there, Jesus appeared to him and sent him to evangelize the Gentiles. Jesus appeared to St. Francis of Assisi and sent him to rebuild His Church and appeared to St. Faustina to popularize the Divine Mercy devotion etc. We may safely conclude that whenever Jesus appears to anyone, He would send that person to bear witness for Him. Now, when the risen Jesus appeared to Our Lady, what did He send her to do?

While he was hanging on the cross, Jesus commissioned the BVM to be the Mother of the Church with these words, “Woman, behold, your son” (John 19:26). What was the point of beholding a dying man? It must be referring to something else. Therefore, when the risen Lord appeared to His mother, He must have explained to her how she would act as the Mother of the Church in the future. For example, for forty days the BVM stayed among the believers praying together with them and elected Matthias to replace Judas (Acts 1:14ff). Though not mentioned by name, the BVM must have been present at the Descent of the Holy Spirit on the Feast of Pentecost. Previously, in order for the Word to become flesh (John 1:14), the Holy Spirit overshadowed the BVM (Luke 1:35). What better way for the Church, the Mystic Body of Christ, to come into existence than for the BVM to give birth once more? What better way to nurture and to chastise her children than appearing to them in subsequent ages? The rest is history.

Brethren! Has the risen Lord appeared to you? I’m sure He has to all of us. Let’s follow the exemplar of our heavenly Mother to bring the good news of reconciliation to all the people we meet. Her intercessions are our hope. Amen.