Jesus said to her “Do not cling to me.”  John 20

These words of Mary to Jesus have captured my attention this Easter.  I’m not sure why exactly unless it’s because of my own clinging. 

There’s a difference between holding and clinging.  Holding is good.  To touch and be touched is wonderful.  But clinging is something else entirely.  Clinging is to fasten on or attach to something without letting go. 

Jesus loved Mary, so his words aren’t criticisms.  Maybe just a reminder, or perhaps even an invitation. . . . to hold, not cling.  I think his words are intended to be metaphorical.  After all, even if she did hold fast to Jesus, she couldn’t prevent him from going to the Father as he intended.  I think Jesus means to say to her that with his resurrection she has new life, and it is time to let go of her old life.  It is time to let go of death.

Maybe that’s why this verse is resonating.  Clinging to that which is dead, or brings death, rather than that which is alive.

Clinging to dead things.  Material things.  Things that hold out the illusion of giving life but suck out our souls.

Clinging to dead ideas.  Ideas about how we think things should be.  I think Mary was probably clinging to that.  I wonder if she had ideas about marrying Jesus, raising a family and such. 

Clinging to dead people.  There’s a difference between lovingly remembering those who have died and making them into our idols.  Building shrines to them.  Never letting them go.

Clinging to bad beliefs—about God, ourselves, and others. Often-times those take the form of bad religion that brings death, not life.

Clinging.

The truth is that eventually we are forced to let go of everyone and everything that we once held dear.  Sooner or later we will face our own death, our own entombment if you will.  A tomb which, by faith, will be empty of all that we once clung to, and filled only with the Presence of God.

Happy Easter!