Learn from Mary Magdalene – it’s her feast day

 

There was a special relationship between Jesus and Mary of Magdala. If we want to deepen our relationship with Jesus, we need to learn from Mary. According to John, she was, after all, the first disciple, the first one to be given the command, “Go and tell others about me.” Today, as we celebrate the feast of Mary of Magdala, let us reread the gospel passage from John 20:1-2,11-18. Down through the centuries, liturgists have been bold enough to include the text from the Song of Songs 3:1-4 as the first reading for this feast. This is a love song which ends “I found him whom my heart loves”. This implies, and quite rightly I believe, that Mary had a deep love for Jesus. She had been healed by this man and the experience touched her at a very deep and emotional level. He restored not only her health but also her dignity. She felt at peace with herself and with her God. But she felt the pain of loss when Jesus was so brutally murdered. She needed to go to the tomb, even though it was still dark. An empty tomb must have aroused shock and horror. Jesus’ body had been stolen. So she went to find Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. They came and saw the empty tomb but didn’t stay. Mary, however, stayed outside and wept. Why rob her friend of a decent burial? She looked inside and saw two angels. They urged her to face her pain. “Why are you weeping?” All Mary could say was, “Where is he?” She turned around and there was Jesus. But she was so blinded by her grief that she could not recognise him. Jesus also pressed Mary to face her loss. “Why are you weeping?” Thinking Jesus was the gardener, all Mary could say was, “Please give him back to me.” At that moment Jesus spoke her name. “Mary!” At that moment she found him whom her heart loved! “Rabbuni – teacher, healer, master, the centre of my life.” Jesus replied, “Let go of me. I have my own journey to make and you have yours. Go and tell the brothers that I am alive.” So, please learn from Mary. In those dark moments of your life, face the pain and emptiness. Seek out the One who was once the source of healing. Find the One who was once the centre of your life. Hear Jesus speak your name. Then let go…. This is the moment when love opens up to a faith that is so utterly free. All I can tell you is, “I have seen the Lord and this is what he said to me.” What a wonderful woman, Mary of Magdala. Please offer a word of thanks to her.