The Rewarding Words!

Monday, July 22, 2024

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Sgs 3:1-4b/2 Cor 5:14-17; Jn 20:1-2,11-18

Today’s Gospel highlights Mary Magdalene’s love for Jesus. 

Though the Gospel text reveals Mary’s sorrow and remorse over the death of Jesus, we can still understand her love for him. 

The fact that she is full of sorrow is revealed in the way she is unable to recognize who calls on her. 

Similarly, her visit to the tomb ‘early in the morning while it was still dark’ is an example of her love and affection for Jesus. 

Further, we can read her love for Jesus through possessive terms too. 

When the angels ask her why she is weeping, her response is, ‘They have taken ‘my’ Lord.’

Again, when Jesus asks her the same, she responds, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you laid him and ‘I’ will take him.’ 

It is for this reason that Jesus tells her to ‘stop holding on to him.’

Nevertheless, her devotion to the Lord is a lesson in discipleship for all of us. We can understand Mary Magdalene’s devotion in three ways. 

Her Presence: Mary Magdalene never abandoned the Lord. When even the disciples of Jesus ran away at the hour of mortal danger, Mary stayed with him even to the crucifixion. She was present at the tomb too. She was the first person to whom Christ appeared after his resurrection and the first to preach the ‘Good News’ of his resurrection. She was steadfast to Jesus through all these. 

Her Encounter: Her encounter with the Risen Lord is unique, and it occurs in several stages. The Gospel text mentions the word ‘weeping’ three times. Hence, we understand that the outer darkness and her inner sorrow prevent her from recognizing the Lord. Here, we also need to contrast her responses before and after her recognition of the Lord. She is indifferent to the Risen Lord when she thinks of him as the gardener. However, upon recognition, she manifests her affection instantly. In her encounter and affection, we glimpse into those characteristics that make one a fervent disciple of the Lord. 

Her Evangelization: The Risen Lord transforms an affectionate woman into a pioneer and herald of the Good News of his resurrection. Mary being the first witness to Christ’s resurrection is a reward for her devotion to the Lord. Her announcement to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’ forms a beautiful conclusion to the story that starts with ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb.’ 

Mary’s devotion to the Lord is a lesson for those who remain indifferent to the Lord’s revelations. 

Mary Magdalene is an embodiment of Christian devotion. 

Mary’s example inspires us that we may all grow in our devotion to the Lord that He might feel compelled to pronounce the rewarding words, ‘Don’t hold on to me!’

 Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar