“Greetings!” Jesus said to the women as they were running to tell the disciples about the empty tomb in Matthew’s Gospel (28:9). In the Gospels of Mark and Luke, Jesus does not speak until the disciples hear from the women who had returned from the tomb.
Strikingly, in today’s Gospel from John, Jesus’ first spoken word is “woman”—“Woman, why are you weeping?” (20:13)— followed by the pivotal moment of this Gospel as Jesus called her by name: “Mary!” As she shouts “Teacher!” in response, it’s easy to imagine her wanting to rush into his arms. With this tender and loving utterance of her name, Jesus shares his new life with her and gives her the honor of being the first to proclaim his resurrection.
In John’s Gospel there are only three other persons he names—Peter, Lazarus, and Philip—for reasons you may recall. As with them, and most poignantly with Mary, by saying her name, Jesus acknowledges his relationship with her. It was as if her name signaled her inner identity. And more importantly, it assured her that Jesus had kept his promise to return and to remain for all time.
What a wonder the good news of the Resurrection is for all of us! Christ knows each of us by name, and nothing, not even death, can keep him from remaining in relationship with us. Given this sacramental power of a name, I resolve from this day forward to honor the risen Christ in each person I meet with a greeting by name.

Sr. Ephrem Hollermann

Ephrem Hollermann, OSB, is a former prioress of Saint Benedict’s Monastery, St. Joseph, Minnesota, and professor emerita of theology at the College of Saint Benedict and Saint John’s University.