It’s time to sit with the Lord

This moment begins with Mary Magdalene searching for Jesus.

Mary weeps in despair as the reality of her missing Lord sets in. A glimmer of hope, a calling perhaps, creeps into Mary’s heart and she takes another look inside the tomb. She is greeted by the sight of two angels, dressed in white, sitting in the tomb where Jesus’ body once lay.

And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. John 20:13-16

As you enter this experience of Visio Divina with Mary Magdalene encountering Jesus after His resurrection, don’t rush to interpret the image. Let it unfold slowly. Let it speak to your heart. And listen for the quiet question it places within you: What is the Lord saying to me today?

Praying with sacred art can become a place of deep encounter with the Lord. Taking the time to sit with the Lord in prayer can re-orient our hearts. We are each invited into rest in prayer. To let the Holy Spirit live and breathe within us. Today, let’s meet the Holy Spirit with Mary Magdalene and Jesus by praying with beauty.

Meet the Holy Spirit with Mary Magdalene and Jesus

We don’t need to overthink praying with sacred art. The moment Mary Magdalene meets Jesus after His resurrection begins with curiosity, openness, and saying, Come, Holy Spirit. Ask the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of your heart. What do you see in this image? What you see may differ from what someone else sees.

Perhaps you notice the gaze Mary and Jesus share. Maybe you notice the tear on Mary’s cheek. What do you imagine Mary is feeling now that she recognizes the Lord? Observe the expressions on their faces. Joy? Comfort? Relief? What emotions are do you immediately see? Where do they appear to be standing?  Let your eyes rest wherever they are drawn. What else do you notice? The colors? The position of of Mary’s hands? Images in the background.

Now place yourself in this image. Where are you? How do you feel? Take some time and meet God in prayer here. What is He saying to you through this painting?

What is the Lord saying to you?

What do you want to say to the Lord?

Ask God for what you need today. Remember, God is in the present moment. No detail is too small in your heart. He cares about you!

• Ask Him for the grace to hold on to your belief in Him during your times of despair
• for increased trust in what He has planned for you
• for permission to fully feel grief
• for the ability to see the joy in the difficulties life brings

How can you receive the Lord?

After you’ve poured out your heart, the next step is to remain with the image. Rest as Mary rests in God’s provision. Model yourself after Mary, and allow yourself to be held by God’s presence. Let the Holy Spirit encounter you with tenderness and acceptance.

We are invited to enter deeper into the moment Mary Magdalene encounters Jesus after His resurrection, to make space within our hearts for the passion and resurrection of Christ. Let us pray with Mary Magdalene to seek holiness in the simple, radical opportunities to say yes to love!

Experience Mary Magdalene Encountering Christ in Your Own Home

Sacred art has a way of continuing the conversation long after the moment has passed. If this experience of Visio Divina stirred something in you, whether a sense of peace, a deeper curiosity, a quiet “yes”, hold onto it in a tangible way! Sacred art isn’t just something to admire. It’s more than decor or extra. It becomes an invitation to meet beauty in the every day. The right image can transform a space, turning an plain wall into a daily encounter with grace.

What artists or works of sacred art enrich your prayer? Let us know in the comments below!