The Feast of St Mary Magdalene

The 22nd of July is the feast day of our own patron saint, Mary Magdalene.

According to Luke, Mary Magdalene was one of the women who had followed Jesus, and ministered to him in Galilee. She was present at his crucifixion, and was with two other women who went to Jesus' tomb and found it empty.

According to Mark, it was to Mary that the risen Christ first appeared.

And in the gospel reading by John we have just heard read to us today, we hear how she was the first to be given a message to deliver to the other disciples by the risen Lord, thus making her the first Apostle to the apostles.

An APOSTLE was someone who had had an encounter with the risen Christ, and a commission from him to preach the good news of his resurrection! She certainly fits that description.

It is most likely for these reasons,  that her name has come to be in the Church's accepted book of saints.

But, on the other hand, some have her fixed in their minds as a common prostitute? Some writers even say she was a high priestess, of the temple of Ishtar, a worshipper of false gods.

We do know from scripture that she was a woman possessed by seven devils who was cleansed by Jesus?

So how can a woman with this kind of background be classed as a saint?

How do we in Longbenton end up drawing the short straw, with her as our patron saint, when we could have had a Peter or a Luke or a Holy Saviour?

Women had never had a very good image, and had very few rights in ancient times.

Their legal position was weaker than a man's.

Much of the law disadvantaged them. Inheritance was forbidden to them. They were expected to be  subservient to men, and they were socially powerless. Also their  religious role was undoubtedly very limited. Jewish men would thank God each day in prayer, that they had not been not born as a woman.

If this is how women were thought of in what was a patriarchal society, then how much more scorned and disadvantaged was this demon possessed woman?

How much lower her sense of self -esteem, and how much greater her feelings of worthlessness?

How much deeper and more acute were her feelings of rejection?

Onto the scene walked the first man who showed her love without making any demands, who loved her as a real person, for herself, rather than what she had to offer.

Jesus made time for her, to drive out her demons and make her whole. He was the first to wash her soul clean, and help her to find joy in living; the one who helped her to find self respect once more.

And it was to Mary that Jesus chose to appear rather than anyone else, and give her good news to preach.

What an honour, not one given to some righteous person, but to her.

There must be times in all of our lives when we feel at a low ebb. We struggle to like ourselves even.  We too can feel despair and a sense of worthlessness because of some slight rejection, some threat of job loss, separation or divorce, redundancy or rebuttal.

Then Mary Magdalene is good news for those who are feeling that way right now…

For if there is hope for Mary Magdalene, then surely there is hope for us.

But how is it that she came to be so placed in so privileged a position, and why was she so honoured by Jesus? His first lady, (next to his own mother that is)?

The answer lies in the scriptures where it is clearly stated by Jesus that those who humble themselves shall be exalted, and those who exalt themselves shall be brought low.

 She humbled herself to draw near Jesus in the first place to receive his cleansing and healing, she was well aware of her sins. Some could not even recognise theirs.

She was so grateful to receive forgiveness for her many sins, when others scorned Jesus for presuming to be able to do this in the first place.

Also she loved Jesus way and above all those who really ought to have welcomed him; with with her tears, and her oil if she indeed was the woman who anointed Jesus in the house of the Pharisees.

Did she not humble herself to serve Jesus' needs as he travelled the land.

Was she not the one who drew so near to his cross of shame, when others held back at a distance, the only person in all four gospels incidentally, recorded as having been there to the bitter end.

And she was faithful unto death, she alone remained weeping with grief, distraught at his mysterious disappearance.

She was never too proud, too scornful, she never held back her true feelings.

In this world of ours where certain people become stars overnight and enjoy adulation, praise and glory and fame in the eyes of other people, here was one who was great in the eyes of Jesus for her humility.

She recognised her need to be commited in faith and in her love for Jesus.

Some people today would love God served to them on a plate. Some want him to prove himself to them, before they will believe. Some wait for signs and wonders, before committing themselves. They see God as the servant and themselves as  lord.

Mary Magdalene is the ideal patron saint for any church, in that she reminds us of what is really important in this our life on earth.

And that is to be radically open to the love of God in Jesus, to be obedient and submissive, to do the seeking and searching for him ourselves, in order to become a new creation. To be filled with the joy of his presence, that others too will come to know the good news … that Jesus is alive!