When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means “Teacher”).
Mary.
It’s just a name. But it’s her name. And when Jesus calls Mary by name, she discovers that she is known. Known by the speaker, known by the man she thought was the gardener. Known, as it turns out, by the eternal Word of God that was part of creation and now ushered in the new creation, Jesus the Christ.
But more than any of this, when Jesus called Mary by name, she knew she was known by her Lord, the one who loved her, cared for her, looked out for her, and sought only her good. And so she turned and answered.
Being known is a powerful thing. Being seen, valued, accepted…not for what you’ve promised to be, not for what you hope to be or are working to be, not for what you might be. But rather seen, valued, and accepted for exactly who you are. That’s what Mary experienced when Jesus called her by name. The power of resurrection and possibility and new life. And so when she heard her name, she turned and answered.
Mary. It’s just a name. But it’s her name. And it’s what Jesus called her so that she knows she is loved.
Jesus is still calling. Calling you, call me, calling all of us…by our name: beloved child of God.
Prayer: Dear God, let us hear your call…and turn to answer. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
