There are times when a passage in Scripture just hits you over the head, and you think, "Wow! This is so me." For me, the Gospel today is one of those passages. When we see Mary Magdalene weeping at the tomb, we see a woman so distraught about losing Jesus. Even when Jesus approaches her in that sadness, she fails to recognize Him. I love how John even goes as far as saying that she thought Jesus was the gardener. That would be me! So wrapped up in my own self that I fail to recognize the living God standing in front of me.

I'm like Mary Magdalene- more worried about my own stuff and focusing on all the hurt that has happened (and in her defense, a lot of deep stuff was going on in her life) that I can't see what miraculous things God is doing. I mean, Jesus is standing before her. ALIVE! But Jesus is not annoyed over her covered eyes. He simply calls her name. And she turns to him. This might be one of my favorite scriptures. That after Jesus suffering on the cross and rising from the dead, one of the very first things He does is call one of His distressed children by name. He calls her to himself. He embraces her in this time of worry and calls her to focus on Him and His Father's kingdom.

There are so many times that we get wrapped up in the business of our lives. We are trying to serve God and love others, but we fail to see Him in the little moments in our daily lives. We fail to see Him moving in our hearts. We miss those moments where He is standing before us calling us by name. But when we stop the frantic happenings and listen to the voice of God, we can hear Him call our name. He is always calling our name. He never tires of calling our name. Let us hear our names, call out to Him, and then run to our family, friends and the whole world with the Good News of the Risen Christ! Let's not just identify ourselves with the Mary Magdalene who thought Jesus was a gardener. Let's identify ourselves with the Mary Magdalene who saw the Risen Christ and ran to tell all the disciples. Wow!

What are you so focused on that is taking your attention off of Jesus?

How are you seeing Christ in your life in this season?

What is Jesus saying to you today as he calls you by name?

"Help me see you, Jesus."

"Alleluia."

"Thank you, Jesus."

Mary Magdalene, after recognizing Christ, ran to tell the disciples all that she had seen. Take some time today to be intentional about sharing the news of Christ with one person!