A few days ago I wrote about the saddest words in the Bible. Today let’s look at the happiest words. Many words could be called “happiest”: the salutation of the Angel Gabriel to Mary, the greeting between Elizabeth and Mary, the baby talk of Joseph and Mary on Christmas, the exclamations at miracles. Today I reflect on “Rabbuni!” Jesus said Mary’s name as Mary wept in the garden at the tomb of Jesus. At the sound of Jesus’ voice “She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’—which means Master.” In context it is a profession of faith, an expression of deep friendship and love, a gush of relief and belief.

As we attend the sacred liturgies of these holiest of days, we may become somewhat fatigued by the emotion, the length of the readings, the intensity of the rituals. Moreover, we hardly know what to think or say in the presence of the Mystery of Our Salvation, when we participate in the self-offering of Our Lord. We could choose the word “Rabbuni!” With Mary of Magdala we turn in the right direction to the face of Jesus Christ. The word expresses our relationship to the Lord. Let it be the Creed of the Paschal Triduum, the Sacred Three Days.