Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
(Song of Songs 3:1-4b; John 20:1-2.11-18)
The word “apostle” is derived from the Greek apostolos
which means “one sent forth.” Today we celebrate St. Mary Magdalene, who, in a
sense, was the first apostle. She was
the first person Jesus sent forth to announce his resurrection from the dead.
According to Luke’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene along with other women
accompanied Jesus and his disciples from Galilee to Jerusalem. That she was a reformed prostitute is
doubtful although she had a serious malady -- perhaps demonic possession as it
is considered today -- of which Jesus healed her. She became his friend as evidenced
by her standing at the cross. She watched
him die along with Jesus’ mother, one or two other women, and the “Beloved
Disciple.”
Mary Magdalene has become a model for all Christians. Nowhere in the Gospels does Jesus call Mary
to follow him like he does Peter and Matthew.
Evidently, she pursued a prompting of the heart to accompany him. Like her, then, Jesus heals all of us -- men and women,
clergy and lay -- of our sins in Baptism. Also like her, we follow Jesus as the source
of our spiritual life. Finally, like Mary
Magdalene, we announce the Lord’s resurrection by our willingness to sacrifice
ourselves for what is true and loving.
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