RABBUNI
Mary Magdalene, turned towards Him and, speaking in Hebrew, said to Him Rabbuni which means Teacher (Gv 20,16). It is important to underline that the woman, until now, had spoken with the unknown grave guardian, turning Him her shoulders. She was not interested in Him, she was attracted by that grave, deprived by her beloved Teachers corpse. Called by her name, she suddenly changed her look and she was immediately face to face with the man she was so heartbrokenly looking for : He was really Jesus.
A philological note is necessary: John says that the word Rabbuni was
pronounced in Hebrew but he certainly meant aramaico (two languages
completely unknown to his readers). Some modern exegetes consider
this picture of Magdalene and the Resurrected as an example of the
itinerary of faith that Mary Magdalene must follow to pass from a faith
in the Teacher, a faith that needs the contact with Him to a faith
based only on the faith. In these exegetes opinion the sound of the
Resurrecteds voice pushed her towards Him, as if under the effect of a
overwhelming and not controllable traction.
That leap, incredible
for being a Jewish woman in a gloomy place, would mean that Mary
Magdalene would be under the illusion to find herself again in the
privileged position of the time of pre-Easter Christ.Yes, Jesus was always the same but the dimension was different.
Once it was the natural contact common to the ordinary conditions of earthly life; now , being on the right hand of the Father, the Teacher gave still something to the senses ( to touch Him, to see Him, to walk and eat together with Him) but only for a short time and in a different way from human formalities.
Now apostles, disciples and holy women had to
get used to meet the Savior only by faith; by the ascension He was
definitively on the right of the Father, the place from which he had
come.
A speech appreciated by the Evangelist John: Christ was sent by the Father, He remained among us for the established period and finally He returned to the One who had sent Him.
Magdalene and the
other three groups found hard to understand such a mysterious design;
Jesus was aware of their difficulty and He was even more gentle and
affectionate than when He was with them (Lc 24,44). We still have
to lay ourselves in front of Magdalene who dares to embrace the Saviors
feet and listen to the words by which He advise her (for a mysterious
reason ) not to make longer this embrace.
SPADA BARBARA
A speech appreciated by the Evangelist John: Christ was sent by the Father, He remained among us for the established period and finally He returned to the One who had sent Him.
SPADA BARBARA
