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(22nd July) Homily for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

READ: (Song 3:1-4; Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18)

REFLECT:  Be a faithful and courageous witness like St. Mary Magdalene…

 St. Mary Magdalene is also called as Mary of Magdala. She is one of Jesus’ most celebrated disciples, according to the Gospels of Mark 16:9–10 and John 20:14–17, for being the first person and a woman to see the resurrected Christ. Mary Magdalene was a Jewish woman.  She hails from Magdala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, between Capernaum and Tiberias. Her name is mentioned 12 times in the Gospels. The Gospels of Mark and Luke have recorded the healing of demons from Mary’s life in their Gospel accounts.

Although we do not have many episodes that are pertinent to Mary Magdalene, however she was an important figure in the life and ministry of Jesus. She is portrayed as a devoted follower of Jesus being present at his ministry, crucifixion, burial and at the time of resurrection and thereafter. The Gospels make known to us that she was the first one to have seen or witnessed resurrected Jesus. Perhaps, Jesus had a special consideration and mercy for her because of her love for Jesus outside the tomb, looking for Jesus in the garden with grief and sorrow crying. She is one of the few women disciples of Jesus who played an important role during the ministry of Jesus and in the early Christian Church with regard to faith and its practices. Her few incidents narrated in the Gospel is as an example of faith and dedication for all of us to remain united to Christ, being compassionate and kind, sharing the good news that Christ is risen.

In addition to this, we also know that it was Pope Francis who recognized St. Mary Magdalene’s role as the first to witness Christ’s resurrection and as a “true and authentic evangelizer,” raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the Church's liturgical calendar. A decree formalizing the decision was published on June 10, 2016, by the Congregation for Divine Worship. Today, St. Mary Magdalene is considered as the patroness of converts, repentant sinners, pharmacists, tanners and women. So based on the word of God and her life incidents in the Gospels, I would like to share with you three points of reflection as how we too can be witnesses of Christ in life;

1. A faithful and thankful woman:

The Scripture introduces Mary Magdalene as a woman who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons freed” (Lk. 8:2). It is only in the Gospel of Luke and Mark that we find references to Mary Magdalene, from whom seven demons were cast out. It also very clearly states that she was one among many women who followed Jesus before she was set free from seven demons. Although, the earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses of Mark 16: 9-20, however, it is given as another conclusion of Mark’s Gospel. In Mark 16:9 we hear too, “When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom he had driven seven demons.”

Perhaps what could have made her faithful to Jesus was her love for the teaching of Jesus. She was a follower of Jesus and that strengthened her faith. We hear in the Gospel of Luke (Lk 8:1-2) that as Jesus was preaching good news of the kingdom, the twelve and some women who had been healing of evil spirits and diseases followed him. Certainly, Mary Magdalene’s following Jesus and her immense faith in Jesus would have lead to the healing of Jesus from seven demons. We can just imagine how difficult and depressed she would have been having possessed by seven demons. It could have been tough and hard but definitely her faith in Jesus helped her to be free from demons. We know that biblically number seven refers to perfection. Perhaps the number seven demons refer that she was completely with infirmities and diseases, she was completely imperfect but now she is made perfect in all completeness and perfection by Jesus Christ as she is freed from seven demons.

The strong faith is what we see in Mary Magdalene and her loyalty to Jesus was unwavering. That’s what is reflected in her life by sharing resources and funds from what she had for the ministry of Jesus. Perhaps the healing of Jesus could have evoked in her such a feeling of joy, generosity and dedication, giving what she had, to Jesus’ ministry after she was freed of her ailment. There is also an opinion that, the “resources” provided as a part of the support of Jesus’ ministry in Luke’s Gospel account suggest that Mary might have been wealthy. The meaning of “Magdala” is defined or known in Arabic and Hebrew language as ‘tower’ or ‘castle. ‘It may be that “the Magdalene” was connected with the industry of the town, for it would seem as if she was not without means, enabling her to serve the Lord with her substance.

Today, we need to show our faithfulness and gratitude to God for the many blessings that we have received in life. What shall be our tribute to God? What shall be our contribution? The most precious tribute and contribution that we can give to God more than money is our life in faithfulness and gratitude. The moment we become faithful and thankful to God, god sends graces from above largely and immensely. Let us live our lives faithfully and thankfully to God, obtain healing for ourselves from various ailments that we are affected and addicted in our lives. Let faithfulness and thankfulness be our tribute and contribution to God through our lives.

2. The Courageous and compassionate woman:

In the ministry of Evangelization in our world today, courage and compassion is most important of all. We need courage to withstand all the obstacles and compassion to serve and love people, making ourselves and others as worthy disciple of Christ. Looking at the life of Mary Magdalene with few references in the Gospel, we can say that Mary Magdalene was indeed a courageous and compassionate woman disciple of Jesus. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew (Mk 15: 40-41 and Matt 27:55-56) we read that there were also some women watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and Joses, and Salome, who followed Jesus when he was in Galilee and saw to his needs. In Matt 27: 61 we see that Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there in front of the tomb. Moreover, the four Gospel accounts record the presence of women at the foot of the cross. In Mark 15:40 records Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James, and Salome. In Matthew 27:55-56 Mary Magdalene, Mary, mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee. The evangelist Luke mentions the group but does not identify them and John lists Mary, mother of Jesus, her sister Mary, wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene.

I perceive Mary Magdalene as a courageous woman because she was not frightened to follow Jesus during the way of his cross although from a distance and at the place of burial. Although some of the twelve were not in the picture at all with Jesus during his agony, yet we find Mary Magdalene at a distance participating in the sufferings and pains of Jesus. Perhaps, the sufferings of Jesus on the way of the cross made her feel so kind and compassionate to Jesus that she moves with him, stands beneath the cross courageously and shows compassion to Jesus in the hour of his agony and pain.

In a multi-faceted world, we undergo many crisis in the faith we profess. We speak a lot about human and religious freedom, but minority always suffers and is subjugated. Hardly people come forward to voice out people who suffer unjustly or by the time we raise our voice the issue gets exploded so much that no remedy could be sought out. The present Manipur issue is very viral and it’s alarming us to see how humanity suffers and in particular Christianity. The Churches have been destroyed; people have been attacked variously and put to death too in Manipur because of the fight and oppression, between two sects 'Meitie and kukkis' (2023).  Today we need courage to face the persecution to the faith we profess, voice out for the same to relieve ourselves from such shameful and fateful situations. With the virtue of courage, we need as well compassion to spread the love of God all over the world and prove to the world that God whom we believe is a God of love who loves all without any favouritism and partiality and a compassionate God who forgives each one of us. Let us be like Mary Magdalene courageous and compassionate to follow Jesus.

 3. First woman to witness Christ’s resurrection:

The love we have for the other will make us do anything we can and even beyond our boundaries of imagination. We find such love in Mary Magdalene. She loved Jesus so much and felt his absence so much that she could not wait on with the love and the desire to see Jesus. In John’s Gospel we read that Mary Magdalene was weeping outside the tomb and bent down to look inside the tomb (Jn 20: 11) to have glance at Jesus. Perhaps, one of the commentators of the Gospel of John has very beautifully written as the Courage of Love and substantiates in the following manner: It was truly a bold thing for Mary Magdalene, either alone or in company with her small sisterhood, to go forth in the dark, enter Joseph’s garden, where the Roman soldiers had been all night, and where He was buried, Whom the Jewish authorities hated even unto death. It seemed almost defiance to the whole Jewish people. But strong love is the spirit of heroism; it will face armies and dare death in its most hideous forms.

It is not that Mary Magdalene just went to see the tomb alone but the intensity of her affection for Jesus. That’s why although she could not recognize Jesus, supposing him to be the gardener, she expresses her deep love and affection by saying, “Sir if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, I will go and take him away,” (Jn 20:15). The moment Jesus calls Mary by her name, she recognized Jesus. Perhaps she wanted to clasp Jesus or embrace him with the deep love and longing she had for Jesus, but Jesus tells her, “Do not touch me… (Jn 20: 17). However the joy was unspeakable and the optimism to a greater degree she rushes and shares good news to the apostles and disciples that she has seen the Lord. It is not just a statement she makes rather a joyful affirmation and optimism of faith and love for Jesus. She and the apostle could have thought to themselves that everything is gone in the air but something substantial happens and that becomes the essence and substance of their life now. The essence and substance of their life now to share that “Jesus is risen.”

Perhaps, that’s what we hear in the four Gospels. In Lk 24: 10 we see that among women who brought the news of Jesus’ resurrection Mary Magdalene was one of them along with Joanna and Mary the mother of James. In Matt 28: 1-10; Mark 16:9–10 and John 20:14–17, for being the first person to see the resurrected Christ and share the good news to the apostles. Mary Magdalene is honored to be first woman to witness the resurrected Jesus. In a patriarchal Jewish society, where women were not given importance and even women witnesses were not considered, yet Jesus chose her to reveal. That’s the greatness of Jesus and the privilege that Jesus gives to Mary Magdalene. That’s what made Pope Benedict XVI in his address before the Angelus on July 23, 2006 to refer Mary Magdalene as “a disciple of the Lord who plays a lead role in the Gospels.”  

Today what we need to have is the deep love for Jesus. The deep love for jesus would make us courageous, optimistic and obtain the privileges that we require as Christ’s disciple and God’s children. The reason behind why we are losing the grip of love is our misplaced love and trust over commodities and goods of the passing world. The real love will make us feel the absence of the one whom we really love or loved. That’s what happened to Mary Magdalene. She loved Jesus dearly and as a token of love she exhibited for Jesus, Jesus reveals himself to her at first after the resurrection. She becomes the privileged person to see, witness and share the risen Christ with apostles and others. Let us also love Jesus and fall in love with him by living our lives for Jesus, so that we remain in him and obtain joy and courage in life.

RESPOND:

Are we faithful and thankful followers of Jesus in life?

Do we manifest courage and compassion in the different types of ministry entrusted in the name of Catholic Church, congregation or community or family?

Do we witness risen Christ by life with optimism and joy?

Let us become faithful and thankful followers of Jesus, use the qualities of courage and compassion in ministry and thus witness Christ in life by optimism and joy that God gives us through Jesus. Amen.

Happy Feast! God bless us all!  Live Jesus

Fr. Ramesh George MSFS