While the painting is titled, "Touch me not," that's not the best translation of Christ's Easter words to Mary Magdalen. I'd add, that translation is not helpful either, as when the Risen Jesus later meets Thomas he tells the apostle to touch his hands, feet and side. A more accurate translation of Jesus' words is, "Do not hold onto me."
Jesus is instructing Mary not to hold onto him because his glorification has not yet been fully realized. That glorification began when Jesus was "lifted up" on the Cross, and then advanced in the Easter Resurrection. But Jesus needed to Ascend to the Father — to take his place in the Trinitarian love from which we are loved and invited to love in return. "Do not hold onto me" might mean we are not to hold on to a too small idea of who Jesus Christ is. Do not hold onto ideas that keep me from being my own new Christ-person.
How are we to celebrate Easter this year of such unspeakably awful suffering, destruction, death and grief? The Easter message insists on life and the goodness of life. Can I be creative in finding ways to make life happen more abundantly? A photo appeared this week of a Ukrainian woman planting white tulips outside her utterly destroyed apartment building in Kyiv—a seemingly miniscule insistence on life as fear and death press in. What does she have within her?
Here is my Easter Blessing-Prayer for you and your dear ones today.
The strengthening of April's sun be yours.
The daffodil's endurance through the frost-threatening night be yours.
The delight of the bee-foraged, crocus-filled field be yours.
The restoration of ground-thaw be yours.
The inner power of the Wren's song be yours.
The forgiveness of the exploited earth be yours.
The courage of roots until the soil's warming be yours.
The wonder of Robin's return be yours.
The angel's Easter greeting of life be yours.
The hastening joy of the myrrh bearing women be yours.
The loveliness of Christ's friendship be yours.
The peace greeting of the Risen One be yours.
