Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Friends–Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene and what a beautiful series of readings to reflect on as we wrap up the week. In one of our optional first readings, we are told that Christ impels us. Impels, urges, drives, directs us to what exactly? To no longer live for us. We are compelled to let go of our ego, turn away from sin and selfishness, and accept the love of Christ, live for the love of the other; “The old things have passed away; behold, new things have come” (2 Cor 5:17).
We all know what it is like to search for something. Often in our prayer, we are searching, seeking, longing for God’s guidance and intervention. “My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God” (Ps 63:2). Sometimes we are searching with more desperation than others, depending on the circumstances. As you read the gospel today, can you hear Mary Magdalene’s desperation? I can only imagine the panic when she discovers the empty tomb; what a roller coaster of emotions to go through, especially after the trauma of the previous two days. In preparing for today, I came across a beautiful reflection from Venerable Fulton Sheen on the Mary Magdalene’s experience on Easter Sunday:
Christ had uttered “Mary” and all heaven was in it. It was only one word Mary uttered, and all earth was in it. After the mental midnight, there was this dazzle; after hours of hopelessness, this hope; after the search, this discovery; after the loss, this find. Magdalene was prepared only to shed reverential tears over the grave; what she was not prepared for was to see him walking on the wings of the morning.
Only purity and sinlessness could welcome the all holy Son of God into the world; hence, Mary Immaculate met him at the door of earth in the city of Bethlehem. But only a repentant sinner, who had herself risen from the grave of sin to the newness of life in God, could fittingly understand the triumph over sin. To the honor of womanhood it must forever be said: A woman was closest to the cross of Good Friday, and first at the tomb on Easter Morn.
May we continue to have the same thirst, the same longing for Christ of Mary Magdalene. Have faith in the love of Christ, to be impelled by him who for our sake died and was raised! “I have seen the Lord” (Jn 20:18); God is with us, in the Eucharist, in our neighbors, in our children. “Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empy tomb.” Alleluia! We remain present to the words of Mary today because our good God has made us a new creation in Christ, new things have come. I have seen the Lord!
Peace,
Brandon Meyer