Noli Me Tangere — A Moment Between Mary Magdalene and Jesus of Nazareth
Noli me tangere ('touch me not') is the Latin version of a phrase spoken, according to John 20:17, by Jesus to Mary Magdalene when she recognized him after his resurrection.
Here is an exquisite poem of imagination written by Episcopal priest Deborah Magdalene. I knew Magdalene, as she is called, when she was a sister of St. Helena’s Convent, a convent of Episcopal Benedictine nuns. She gave this poem to me when I was there at the convent on retreat, and I read it every year on Easter morning.
Noli me tangere!
Do not touch me!
I have not yet ascended
I am still man . . .
unglorified man.
Your love penetrates
and touches me so,
that not only my soul
but my flesh aches for you,
to soothe what is still so human,
and to embrace you,
with longing and gratitude
for remaining with me.
Where were the others . . .
my disciples,
Peter . . . who knows who I am?
Where were those
whom I cured and fed . . .
those who sang Hosanna
and spread the palms?
But you . . . you came.
You came to Calvary
when there were
no signs and wonders, and
no adoring crowds.
You came when all hope
seemed to have come to failure
and when all were frightened
and locked hidden in a room.
You came
when it seemed
all over, and nothing more to be had
from me.
Still you came
even to the tomb.
You came there
without expectation
or even agenda, other
than to anoint
dead flesh and bones.
You came
with the pulse of love
burning so intensely
in your veins
for even my dead flesh
as to have
cast out all fear in you.
And you brought
your tears!
Noli me tangere!
Do not touch me!
For your love
is so delightful
it tempts me
to remain
but I must
go to the Father
if the Spirit
is to come
and remain
with you
always.
Noli me tangere!
Do not touch me!
“You are black
but lovely . . . and
I see no swarthiness
in you.
For it is the sun
that has burnt you.
Come then, my love,
my lovely one, come”
Weep no more.
Go tell Peter and the others:
“See winter is past
the rains are over and gone,
the flowers appear on the earth,
the season of glad songs has come,
the cooing of the turtledove is
heard in our land.”
And the Lord has risen indeed!
(image: North Mosaic 01; Resurrection Chapel, National Cathedral, Washington DC)
