Feast of St Mary
Magdalene
(Song of Solomon
3:1-4; Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18)
1.0. The Question of the
Magdalene
Today we celebrate the feast of St
Mary Magdalene, one of the prominent women in the Gospels. She is mentioned
about twelve times in the Gospels. Magdala was a town in Galilee, where Jesus
visited severally. Mary of Magdala was delivered of seven demons, afterwards,
she became a follower of Jesus. She was identified among several women that
supported Jesus’ ministry (Lk 8:1-3). And she watched the crucifixion from a
distance and saw where Jesus was buried (Mk 15:40). Mary Magdalene was the
first to witness the resurrection, and the first to announce the resurrection
to the other disciples. This has earned her the title in some quarters as “Apostle
to the Apostles.”
But there are some unresolved
questions about this woman. Is Mary Magdalene the same as the sinful woman that
anointed the feet of Jesus? (Lk
7:36-38). Maybe her taking oil to the tomb to anoint the body
of Jesus can make one think that the two personalities are the same. Was she
the same as the woman caught in adultery? (Jn 8:1-11). Some traditions try to
associate her with Mary the sister of Martha and Lazarus. Nevertheless, these
were not specified in the Bible. But the fact that the Church has a saint day
for Martha, and Mary Magdalene is celebrated in place of the other Marys, apart from the Mother of
Jesus, gives room for the above assumptions.
2.0. “I have seen the Lord”
“Mary Magdalene went and said to the
disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that He had said these
things to her.” Here is a woman who discovered Jesus along the way, committed
her life totally to Him, and is now addressed by Jesus with such respect and
importance! After her deliverance, she discovered the truth that is Christ
Jesus, and surrendered her life totally to Him. It was in response to the love
she has for Jesus that she went to anoint His body. Then she became the first
to witness the resurrection.
My beloved brother and sisters, we
thank God for the gift of Mary Magdalene and the example of her life. Each day
gives us an opportunity to rediscover the truth of Christ Jesus and fall in
love with Him anew. This brings newness to our lives, and disposes us for a deeper Divine encounter. But, Like Mary, we must be committed and be responsible to
the demands that this love makes on us.
St Mary Magdalene is the patron
saint of contemplative life, glove makers, converts, penitent sinners, sexual temptation, people ridiculed for their piety, Perfumers, hairdressers, Pharmacists, tanners
and women. In 2016, Pope Francis raised the level of her liturgical memory from
‘memorial’ to ‘feast.'
Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic
Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Lagos.
Wednesday July 22nd,
2020.
Feast of St Mary Magdalene.
