Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

My dear brothers and sisters in Christ,

Today, on this Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, our readings speak to us of a profound, persistent seeking for the One whom our heart loves. The Song of Songs, in our first reading, gives us the voice of the Bride, restless in her longing: “On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves—I sought him but I did not find him.” She rises, she searches the city streets, she asks the watchmen… her heart is consumed with this one desire: to find the beloved.

And then, in our Gospel, we encounter Mary Magdalene, mirroring this same intense longing. She comes to the tomb “early in the morning, while it was still dark,” only to find the stone removed. Her immediate thought is loss: “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” She stays outside, weeping, her heart broken by the perceived absence of her Lord. Even when she sees angels, even when Jesus Himself stands before her, she doesn’t recognize Him. Her grief, her desperate search, blinds her. She thinks He is the gardener, pleading, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.”

Her longing is so deep, so absolute, that she only wants to find Him, to be near Him. And then, Jesus speaks her name: “Mary!” In that one word, everything changes. Her eyes are opened, her heart recognizes the Beloved. “Rabbouni!” she exclaims, “Teacher.”

This is the power of love, isn't it? The power to seek, to long, to recognize. It’s a love that transcends even death, a love that calls us by name. For his parents, Alan and Thao, for his brother Ryan, and for all his aunts, uncles, and loved ones, the longing for Benjamin is real and raw. It has been five weeks since Ben passed away, and the ache in your hearts is a testament to the profound love you share with him. You, like Mary Magdalene, may feel as though your beloved has been taken, and you don’t know where he has been laid.

But just as Jesus called Mary by name, He calls us too, into a deeper understanding of His presence. We remember Benjamin Vo today, a young man whose determined spirit was evident in every aspect of his life. Whether on the badminton court or pushing through basketball tryouts, he believed that “trying is all that matters.” He wasn't afraid to work hard, to give his all. That determined spirit, that refusal to give up, even when things were difficult, was a beautiful reflection of a soul that sought goodness, that yearned for joy. It was a spirit that, like Mary Magdalene’s, ultimately sought the Beloved, even if he didn't always know it.

To Alan and Thao, to Ryan, and to all who grieve: Jesus sees your tears. He knows your longing. And He calls your name, offering comfort and hope. To every family carrying a heavy cross, to every child who is suffering, whether you are here with us or tuning in from afar, please know that you are welcomed, seen, and held by a God who knows your name, who understands your sorrow, and who promises that in Him, all longing finds its fulfillment. Benjamin is now with the Lord he sought, resting in the light of Christ, and his determined, loving spirit continues to inspire us to seek and to find God in every moment of our lives, especially in moments of sorrow. May we find strength and hope in this promise of God's enduring love.