“…Mary stood without at the sepulchre weeping: and as she wept, she stooped down, and…Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus saith unto her, Mary.” (John 20: 11, 15-16)
Mary was looking into the sepulcher, seeking out a sense of resolution, of peace, of a conclusive sense of life in the place where the dead are buried. Her faith in Jesus and his works was strong and her great love for the Christ message is seen in her enduring love and her own humble receptivity to Jesus’s message of forgiveness, healing, and freedom.
She didn’t recognize Jesus initially because she was looking in the wrong direction–her thought in that moment expecting a body to mourn and not ever-lasting life to celebrate. She looked right at Jesus and did not see him. Her spiritual eyes were darkened by mortality, closed to the infinite nature of the Christ, that revelation of man as the son and daughter of God.
What woke her and opened her eyes to the risen Christ? He called her by name. He brought the Christ right to her and she heard her own name, her own true nature, spoken, recognized and fully seen and loved. She responded to that clear voice of the Christ awakening her to herself, to the woman who didn’t need to mourn for death but to celebrate life.
Quiet those confused thoughts. Turn from the sepulcher of mortality and limitation in your own life, and listen for the voice of the Christ calling your name, your very name—knowing you, seeing you, loving you, cherishing you, and awakening you to the wonder of your own everlasting, limitless, glorious, life!
This is today’s e-inspire. These messages are based on passages from the Bible and Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures, by Mary Baker Eddy. These books are our “pastor” in Christian Science. Come back every Tuesday and Thursday for fresh inspiration. Or get a free subscription to receive an inspirational message like this one every morning directly to your inbox by contacting me at lamolitercs@aol.com. A downloadable compilation of categorized messages is also available by request.
Being Free Now 
I so appreciate this. Looking in the wrong direction… isn’t that such a common problem. Winston Churchhill was once hit by a bus in Washington DC as he stepped off of the curb. Accustomed to the traffic flow in England, he looked to the right for oncoming traffic instead of to the left, as our traffic flow warrants.
So many times the solution, the goal, the prize is at hand if we only look in the right direction. Jesus, once again, pointed the right way, the spiritual way when Mary was burdened by the material picture.
Thanks Laura. So helpful.
Thanks so much, Pat. I always appreciate your additional insights. They are very helpful!