Feast of Saint
Mary Magdalene
(Song of Songs 3:1-4b; John 20:1-2.11-18)
Of Gods and Men is
a movie about contemporary martyrs in Algeria.
In one poignant a young woman asks her monk-doctor what love is like. He replies that it is “an attraction, a
desire, a quickening of the spirits, an intensification of life itself.” The
monk admits that he had fallen in love a number of times. Why didn’t he ever marry? He says that he met a greater love that led
him to the monastery. Something like
this may be said of Jesus.
Mary Magdalene is sometimes portrayed as Jesus’ lover and
even his wife. There is no basis for
these claims either in Scripture or in any other reliable source of antiquity. However, today’s gospel indicates Mary’s physical
attraction to him. Yet, like the
monk-doctor, Jesus knows a greater love - the love for his Father - which led him
to the cross. Meanwhile, Mary Magdalene
did not spend her time pining the loss of Jesus. Rather she announced his resurrection into
glory.
Mary Magdalene can help us appreciate our own
sexuality. Just because we are attracted
to someone should not allow us to harbor erotic desires. As Mary with Jesus we cannot cling to these
desires except, of course, for the one we will make our life’s partner. Clinging to that person should even lead us
to the Lord Jesus.
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