Thoughts on the Feast of Mary Magdalene

Thoughts on the Feast of Mary Magdalene

22 July 2013

 

“We are convinced that one has died for all; therefore all have died.  And he died for all, so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for him who died and was raised for them….If anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation; that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting the message of reconciliation to us.”  (2 Corinthians 5:14-19)

 

“Jesus said to Mary Magdalene, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.  But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord”’ and she told them that he had said these things to her.”  (John 20:17-18)

Paul writes to the Corinthian church to remind them of what they already know: that the death and resurrection of Jesus has forever transformed the world.  That God has restored the world, not merely for some select few chosen people, but “for all.”  That God freely offers forgiveness, reconciliation, and right relationship to everyone.  And that they, those Corinthian Christians, have work to do in that new reality.  That they are sent, every one of them, to live the life and share the news of this new reality.  To be ambassadors, messengers, apostles (from the Greek word apostello, to send out) of this good news.

Mary of Magdala, whose feast day we commemorate today, has been called “the apostle to the apostles.”  All four of the Gospels identify her as being present at Jesus’ crucifixion, when all his friends had abandoned him.  She is the first to see the risen Jesus on Easter morning; she goes to Peter and James and John and the others with the news “I have seen the Lord.” She is sent (apostello) with a message (“Go…and say to them…”)  That message will change all of their lives; that message is still changing lives today.

At the end of every celebration of the Eucharist, the Deacon (or the priest if there is no Deacon) dismisses us into the world with a command:  GO.  This is the word of sending for us, as messengers and ministers of the Good News of Jesus.

 

To whom are we sent with the message “I have seen the Lord”? 

Where are our brothers and sisters hiding “behind locked doors” in fear and confusion? 

Who are the people in our families, workplaces, schools, and neighborhoods, desperately longing for news of forgiveness, reconciliation, and hope?

What would “Good News” sound like (look like, taste like, feel like) to them?