MARY MAGDALENE, A WITNESS OF THE RESURRECTION

22 July - St. MARY MAGDALENE

During Jesus’ time, Mary was a very common name, remembering Miriam, Moses’ sister. Today, we celebrate Mary Magdalene, so called because she came from Magdala. From the information we gather from the gospels, we know very little about this Mary. She appears during Jesus’ passion, was present near the cross, and participated in Jesus’ funeral (Mt 27:56-61). She went early in the morning to the tomb and Jesus appeared to her, ordering her to inform the other disciples about his resurrection (Mt 28:1-10).

Luke gives some extra-information, saying that she had been healed and freed from seven demons (Lk 8:2). In the Latin Church, the tradition has confused Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet (Lk 7:36) or with Mary, the sister of Lazarous. She is seen as the prostitute who repented, converted and became a disciple. However, Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute, but a woman deeply troubled to the point of insanity, who found peace by meeting Jesus. She was part of the group of women who served Jesus and the disciples and “provided for them out of their resources" (Lk 8:3).

Nowadays, without any fundament, some make the very strange claim that Mary Magdalene was Jesus’ wife. In the gospels, we just get these basic facts and nothing else:

• She was a troubled woman.
• She was healed by Jesus and found peace.
• She became a disciple and followed Jesus.
• She became part of a women’s group, who put themselves at the service of Jesus and his disciples.
• With the other women, she accompanied Jesus to Jerusalem.
• She was present at his crucifixion and participated in his funeral.
• Early on Sunday morning, she went to the tomb and saw the risen Lord.
• She was commissioned by the Lord to inform the disciples of his resurrection.

Mary Magdalene is a first hand witness of the resurrection and she can play a role model as a committed disciple, pointing the way to many women who can become preachers of the Gospel. Indeed, Mary Magdalene can help us to reflect on the role of the woman in the Church. Like her, all are called to be witnesses of Jesus Christ and announcers of the resurrection.