Sermon – First Tuesday of the Easter Cycle, April 7, 2026

We are in Easter week. Throughout this week, every day until Sunday is Easter.

This is such a great holiday that every day of the week is celebrated as Easter. In the biblical texts of this week, we will also see Jesus' appearances to his disciples after the Resurrection.

Jesus rises and appears to his disciples to show them that he is truly resurrected. The biblical text today presents us with one of the most touching encounters after the Resurrection: the meeting between Mary Magdalene and Jesus Christ.

Mary is weeping before the tomb. Her heart is filled with sorrow, loss, and longing. Although she sees angels, she still doesn't understand. Even when she sees Jesus, she doesn't recognize him; she mistakes him for the gardener.

This shows us an important truth: When we are in pain and darkness, we may not notice God even when He is very close to us. But everything changes with a single word: “Mary!” Jesus calls her by her name.

This is a profound truth: God knows us not generally, but individually. He knows our story, our wounds, our journey.

Like a good shepherd, He calls each of us by our name. And it is here that the true encounter begins. When Mary hears her name, her eyes open. She answers, “Rabbuni!” (“My Teacher”). At that moment, her sorrow turns into joy. This is no longer a superficial happiness, but a deep and inner joy born from the encounter with the Risen Lord.

Mary Magdalene's life before meeting Jesus was filled with various pursuits (see Luke 8:2). This shows us that her joy was more of a temporary joy dependent on external circumstances; that is, an earthly joy.

Earthly joy:

• It depends on external conditions.

  
  

• It is temporary and disappears quickly.

  
  

• It often leaves a space after it.

Inner joy (born from encounter with Jesus):

• It comes from within and endures even during difficult times.

  
  

• It is lasting because it is based on God.

  
  

• It gives meaning to life and transforms the heart.

Mary experiences this transformation. At the beginning of the story, she is a weeping woman; at the end, she becomes one who carries the good news: "I saw the Lord!" Indeed, anyone who encounters Jesus cannot contain their joy; they share it.

Saint Thomas Aquinas speaks of two kinds of joy. One is superficial and fleeting joy, which may be called laetitia . This joy depends on external things for its existence and ends very quickly. The other is lasting and profound joy, called gaudium . This joy does not depend on any external things.

This joy arises from knowing the truth, living virtuously, and uniting with God. That is why it is lasting. Joy arises when we possess something we love.

The best and greatest thing we can seek is God. We can truly be happy when we know that He is resurrected, that He lives among us, and that we can receive Him in the Eucharist. And nothing from the outside can change that joy.

God has a personal love for each of us. Nothing can take this love away from us. Only Satan, worldly thoughts, our own flaws, and sins can distance us from God.

We too are called by our names. In our own suffering, questions, and searches, Jesus draws near to us and calls us personally.

Perhaps, like Mary, we don't recognize Him immediately. But when we hear His voice—in the Word, in prayer, in life—something changes within us.

This is the call of Easter: to move from sadness to joy, from superficiality to depth, from fleeting happiness to true happiness.

Let us wish to hear the Lord call us by our name. And when we know Him, let us experience that inner joy that no one can take away from us. And like Mary Magdalene, let us declare with our lives: “I have seen the Lord!”

May the Virgin Mary help us to experience the true joy of Easter.