Saint of the Second Chance!

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Song of Songs 3:1-4b; Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

The feast of St. Mary Magdalene invites us to reflect on the infinite grace of God that heals us with second chances. 

A historical exploration into Mary Magdalene’s life shows that she has often been a misunderstood figure in the New Testament. Until recently, her identity was conflated with the woman who anointed the feet of Jesus. However, the Gospel texts hold that she was a woman healed by Jesus, from whom he cast out seven demons (Lk 8:2). As we may know, the number seven is a leitmotif in the Gospels to symbolize fullness or totality. Hence, the seven demons suggest that Mary Magdalene’s past suffering was total and her condition was severe. Whether it was demonic possession, psychological illness, or moral sinfulness, Mary Magdalene was completely lost. However, that was not all. With Jesus coming into her life, she received her second chance, and her life took a miraculous turn thereafter. 

The saint of the second chance teaches us how to catch hold of God’s grace to grow in saintliness after conversion. Hence, what is most moving about her life is how she thrived in her second chance after she was healed by Jesus. 

Faithful Love: After the moment of grace, Mary Magdalene ditched her old life and behaved as if she was healed by Jesus for something. Becoming a faithful follower of Jesus, she stood at the cross in love and fidelity when all others fled. She was the first at the tomb and the first to see the Risen Lord and became an Apostle to the Apostles when Jesus entrusted her with the first message of the Resurrection. Thus, Mary Magdalene clung to Jesus in love, faithfulness, and gratitude. 

Transforming Mercy: More importantly, Mary Magdalene’s life reveals that God’s mercy is not the end of the story but the beginning of a new life. This is how Mary Magdalene, who was healed of seven demons, became a follower of Jesus, then a witness, a disciple, and finally a saint. Mary’s forgiveness shows that when Jesus forgives us, he does not just erase our past but invites us to a new future. Mary Magdalene’s life-transforming encounter with Christ dispelled the darkness from her life so that she walked in his light as his loyal maid. 

Enlivening Hope: Mary Magdalene’s life leaves behind a beautiful narrative of hope for us. Her past life corresponds to her encounter with the Risen Lord. In both places, we see that she who came in grief left with joy, upon encountering the Lord. Her life becomes a compelling proof of the fact that with God’s mercy, no one is too far gone, no sin too great, and no past too dark for God to redeem. Hence, if we ever feel guilty about our past and that we made so many mistakes that we cannot forgive ourselves, then Mary Magdalene’s story belongs to us. 

The saint of the second chance helps us realize that saintliness is to be defined by our love for Christ. In this way, Mary Magdalene behaved forgiven and resurrected. 

In her first chance, Mary Magdalene might have been away from God. But when she was offered a second chance, she showed us what it is to hold on to Christ for the rest of her life. 

Let us pray that we may realize the greatness of God’s mercy and return to the Lord to thrive in our second chances.

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar