Mary Magdalene - Apostle to the Apostles

MARY MAGDALENE

THE APOSTLE TO THE APOSTLES

One of my favourite songs from the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar, with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice is, 'l don't know how to love him.'

The song is sung by Mary Magdalene, whose feast day we celebrate on 22 July.

'l don't how to love him

What to do to move him

I've been changed, yes really changed

In the past few days when I've seen myself

I seem like someone else.

I don't know how to take this

I don't see why he moves me

He's a man just a man

And I've had so many men before

In very many ways

He's just one more'

Unfortunately, this picture of Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, who has 'had so many men before' in her life, and of whom Jesus is ‘just one more', does not find support in the bible

It seems to be based upon a story about an anonymous woman in St Luke's Gospel, who broke an alabaster jar of ointment over the feet of Jesus, and proceeded to wash them with her tears and dry them with her hair. The linking of this woman with Mary Magdalene, is probably due to her also seeking to anoint the dead body of Jesus.

It is unfortunate that Luke does not name this anonymous woman. However, a few verses later on, he does formally introduce Mary Magdalene for the first time to his readers. He writes: 'Mary called Magdalene from whom seven demons had gone out.'

There is therefore no reason to link the anonymous woman with Mary Magdalene, as elaborated by Gregory the Great and expressed in medieval piety and stain glass windows,

Likewise, Mary Magdalene should not be confused with Mary of Bethany or with Mary the mother of James and John.

Who then was Mary Magdalene?

This Mary probably came from Magdala, also known as Tarichaea, on the west side of the Sea of Galilee. She was one of a group of women whom Jesus had healed from, 'evil spirits and infirmities'. In particular, St Luke tells us that Jesus had healed her from 'seven demons', which probably means that she was seriously ill.

As a result of their healing, she, with other women, followed Jesus and his disciples around Galilee and, 'provided for them out of their resources,'

Mary Magdalene was also present at the crucifixion of Jesus, where she watched from a distance, and later at the foot of the cross.

$he also heard Joseph of Arimathea ask for the dead body of Jesus, and watched where he was laid in his garden tomb.

Since the following day was the Sabbath, which meant no work could be done, Mary waited until the first day of the week before she went to anoint the dead body of Jesus. Whether she went alone or with others we cannot be certain. Matthew suggests two women went to the tomb, whilst Mark suggests three and Luke remains silent as regards the number. In John's Gospel, the spotlight falls just upon Mary Magdalene.

Having found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb, Mary looked inside and found that the tomb was empty.

Assuming that the enemies of Jesus had removed the body, she went and told Peter and John, who returned with Mary to the tomb and confirmed its emptiness.

Whilst Peter and John disappear from the scene, presumably to tell the other disciples about the empty tomb, Mary remained and whilst looking Into the tomb she encountered two angels who asked her why she was weeping. 'They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him,' she replied.

Still weeping, she became aware of someone standing behind her, whom she assumed to be the gardener, and probably responsible for the removal of the body. To the question, 'Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?' she replied, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.'

The stranger then said, 'Mary,' and through her sobbing she recognised the voice of Jesus and replied, ‘Rabboni', which means 'teacher.'

After telling Mary not to cling to him, she departs from the garden and goes and tells the eleven disciples that she has "seen the Lord.'

Thus Mary became the first person, not only to see the empty tomb, but also to meet the risen Christ. Hence, she has been called 'The apostle to the apostles.'

What then is the relevance of Mary Magdalene for us today?

May I invite you to reflect upon three factors?

Firstly, in the darkness of the night, Mary initially looked for the dead Jesus so she could anoint his body.

Alas, far too many people nowadays see Jesus as a great teacher of the past. He is a person in history like Lord Nelson or the Duke of Wellington.

But Mary did not find the dead body of Jesus, and neither can any archaeologist digging in the Holy Land, because Jesus is risen and is no longer limited by time or space. It is our experience of the risen Jesus that matters, and of which people long to hear.

Secondly, it was not Mary who found Jesus but it was Jesus who found Mary. In her confusion and disappointment, she was not able to recognise Jesus immediately.

We too can become so wrapped up in our own little world that we fail to see and know Jesus when he comes to us. If only we can wipe away those tears of self-pity, we shall find that he is there to support and comfort us in our distress.

And thirdly, Mary did not recognise Jesus immediately because she was still looking for the pale Galilean in eastern robes.

I think I have told you the story of Francis of Assisi before, but it is worth telling again.

Francis was terrified of leprosy. One day when he was out riding he came across a leper. He found his sores repugnant. Something made him get off his horse and go and put his arms around that leper. When he did so, and looked up into the leper's face, he saw the face of Jesus looking back at him.

Yes, the risen Christ does not meet us as the pale Galilean in eastern robes but more often than not incognito.

Mary Magdalene's great claim to fame is not as a prostitute who was changed by her encounter with Jesus, but as the 'apostle to the apostles'. She was the first person to see, not only the empty tomb, but also the risen Christ, and went and told the eleven apostles.

And it is the same risen Christ who comes to you and to me in the Holy Eucharist, in the form of bread and wine, being his body and blood, to strengthen us in our discipleship, as he did to Mary in the garden.

God of life and love,

whose Son restored Mary Magdalene

to health of body and mind

and called her to be a witness to his resurrection:

forgive our sins and heal us by your grace,

that we may serve you in the power of his risen life;

who is alive and reigns with You,

in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.