ACC ~ John 20 v14

JESUS DOES NOT WANT HIS APPEARANCE TO OVERWHELM MARY

CHRYSOSTOM: But why, after speaking with the angels and not having yet heard anything from them, did Mary turn back? I think that while she was speaking, Christ suddenly appeared behind her and struck the angels with awe. And when they saw their ruler, they showed immediately by their attitude, their gaze and their movements that they saw the Lord. This is what drew the woman’s attention and caused her to turn around. This is how he appeared to them, but this is not how he appeared to the woman in order not to terrify her at the first sight of him. Rather, he appears to her in a more humble and ordinary form, as is clear from her reaction, supposing that he was the gardener. It was appropriate to lead one of so lowly a mind to higher matters not all at once but gently. He therefore in turn asks her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?” HOMILIES ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN 86.1. [1]

[1] NPNF 1 14:323**.

MARY’S EYES CLOSED TO THE RESURRECTION

JEROME: Was he one person when he was not known and another when he was known? He was surely one and the same. Whether, therefore, they knew him or not depended on their sight. It did not depend on him who was seen. And yet, it did depend on him in this sense, that he held their eyes so that they might not know him. And finally, in order that you may see that the mistake that held them was not to be attributed to the Lord’s body but to the fact that their eyes were closed, we are told, “Their eyes were opened, and they knew him.” This is why, as long as Mary Magdalene did not recognize Jesus and sought the living among the dead, she thought he was the gardener. Afterward she recognized him, and then she called him Lord. AGAINST JOHN OF JERUSALEMS 35. [1]

[1] NPNF 2 6:442-43**.

STILL DOUBTING, SHE TURNED HER BACK

GREGORY THE GREAT: Mary, who was still in doubt about the Lord’s resurrection, turned around to see Jesus. By this doubt she had turned her back to the face of the Lord whom she did not believe had risen. Because she loved and doubted, she saw and did not recognize him. Her love revealed him to her, and her doubt prevented her from knowing him. FORTY GOSPEL HOMILIES 25. [1]

[1] CS 123:192**.