John 20:17

Touch me not. The Greek may be interpreted as meaning either “stop touching me” (this would imply that Mary was embracing His feet) or “stop the attempt to embrace.” The latter is doubtless the meaning here. The point of objection is not that there is anything wrong or sinful in a physical contact with the risen body. There is rather an urgency of situation. Jesus does not wish to be detained now, to receive the homage of Mary. He desires first to ascend to his Father, there to receive the assurance that His sacrifice has been accepted (see DA 790). After His temporary ascension Jesus permitted, without protest, the act He now asked Mary to postpone (see Matt. 28:9).

My brethren. That is, the disciples.

My Father, and your Father. Not, “our Father,” perhaps designedly to show that there are certain and important differences between Christ’s relationship to the Father and ours. “Father” and “God” here stand clearly revealed as synonyms.