“In today’s Gospel, we see a very striking and beautiful detail: The first person to encounter the Risen Jesus… was a woman. Not Peter. Not John. Not any of the apostles. But Mary Magdalene. And this is not accidental. This is very intentional.
In the culture of Jesus’ time, the testimony of a woman was not even considered reliable in court. If you wanted to invent a story, you would never choose a woman as your first witness. And yet, this is exactly what the Gospel tells us. Why?
Because God does not follow human standards. God does not choose based on status, power, or recognition. God chooses based on the heart.
Who was Mary Magdalene?
She was not perfect. She had a past. She had struggles. But one thing is clear: She loved Jesus deeply. While many had already left, while the apostles were hiding in fear, Mary stayed.
She stayed at the cross. She stayed at the tomb. She stayed even in her tears. And because she stayed, she became the first to see.
This is the message for us today: The Resurrection is first revealed not to the most powerful, but to the most faithful. Not to the most important, but to the most loving.
And there is something even more beautiful. Jesus calls her by name: “Mary.” And she recognizes Him. Then Jesus sends her: “Go to my brothers…”
Imagine that. A woman… sent to proclaim the Resurrection to the apostles themselves. She becomes what many call: “the apostle to the apostles.”
My dear brothers and sisters,
This Gospel is also a message for the Church today. It reminds us:
- that women have a vital and honored place in God’s plan
- that God sees the heart, not the status
- that faithfulness, not position, makes one a true witness
In our families, in our parishes, in our communities—how many women quietly serve, pray, sacrifice, and remain faithful? Mothers, catechists, volunteers, workers—often unnoticed, often unrecognized. And yet, like Mary Magdalene, they are close to the Lord.
Let us also be honest. Sometimes we still live by worldly standards: We listen more to the powerful than to the faithful. We give importance to titles more than to love. But Easter corrects us. God’s ways are different.
So today, let us ask ourselves:
Am I faithful like Mary?
Do I remain with the Lord even in moments of darkness?
Am I ready to be a witness, even if I am not recognized?
Because in the end, what matters is not position. What matters is this: Have I encountered the Risen Lord? And if we have truly encountered Him, then like Mary Magdalene, we are sent to proclaim: “I have seen the Lord.”
My dear brothers and sisters, on this Easter season, let us remember: God can use anyone—even those the world overlooks—to proclaim the greatest news of all. So let us remain faithful. Let us remain close to Jesus.
And like Mary, let us go and tell the world: Christ is alive.”