https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072225.cfm
Faith usually doesn't start when everything is clear and bright.
Think about Mary Magdalene. Her journey began "while it was still dark." This isn't just about the time of day; it's a picture of how she felt inside—sad, confused, and desperately looking for Jesus. The garden tomb became special, not because it was empty, but because she was brave enough to go into the shadows, hoping for some light.
In our own lives, faith often begins this way. We step into painful situations, holding onto a hope we can't quite explain. Feeling confused, sad, or alone—these can actually become the ground where God's grace grows. A way of thinking called Ignatian spirituality teaches that feeling lost or down isn't a spiritual failure. Instead, it's the raw place where God starts to show Himself to us.
Mary didn't turn away. She stayed.
She cried. She searched. She leaned into the mystery. This way of being—open, hurting, and paying attention—is what truly trying to understand God's will looks like. And then, it happened. Not with a bang, but with a gentle touch.
"Mary."
He spoke her name, and everything changed. She recognized Him. The Resurrection wasn't just a big event; it was a deeply personal call to life for her. In that moment, we see not just Mary waking up, but also the pattern for how we, too, can awaken.
But our journey of faith doesn't end in the garden.
Jesus told her, "Don't hold on to me... but go." The special gift she received was meant to move—not to be kept secret, but to be shared. Ignatian wisdom strongly says that every time we experience God, it should lead us to a mission. We're not just called to feel God's presence, but to live it out in the world.
This is our journey of faith. It's a path that goes through dark times, opens up to a close meeting with God, and then pushes us outward with a purpose. Like Mary, we are named, healed, and sent. The question isn't just "Where is God?" but "Where is God sending me now?"
A thought for you today: As you think about your own journey, consider:
Where in your life have you met Jesus "in the dark"?
And what message, what gift, might you be asked to share with the world from that special meeting?
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