Women of the Gospels: Mary Magdalene

Master,

When the curtain of the temple was torn in two, and the earth shook, and the rocks were split, it all paled in comparison to what has happened to my heart.

It was less than a week ago that I held a palm branch high over my head and sang Hosana with throngs of people! My heart was so full then. Seeing all those people give you the honor you so deserve.

Hosana, Son of David!

Watching you ride through the streets of the holy city, greeted with so much fanfare, was an extraordinary sight that made me ponder how the Messiah, who was here to save all these people, who for some reason also saved me in such a radical way.

I'm sure that sounds silly; obviously, the Messiah came to save everyone, but not everyone is me.

Me. Me the girl who was abandoned by everyone I have ever known and loved. Me, who stole from the market stalls to quiet the depths of my hunger. Me, who threw myself at the feet of men to keep off the streets. Me, who made sacrifices to the pagan gods to keep me safe. Me. But who was me?

I had gotten so lost and confused in trying to find my own way that I had completely given my life over to everything that was not true, good, or beautiful. Everything that was not God.

The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

But in my darkest hour, you found me. Your light always shines in the darkness, and the darkness cannot overcome it.

I had taken on a new name, Aurora, after the goddess of dawn. I had answered to this name for so long that I almost forgot the name my father had given me, all those years ago.

As if coming from a dream, I heard a voice across the market call, "Mary! Mary of Magdela."

The recollection of my past spooked me, and the young Mary fled to the back of my mind, trembling.

But Aurora is fearless and stepped forward. "You have the wrong woman. You are speaking to Aurora."

By this time, you closed the space between us and were standing right in front of me.

Little Mary wanted to gaze into those eyes, as they were like none I had ever seen. But Aurora wouldn't have it, and steadied our gaze at your Chin.

"I know who you are, Mary! Do not be afraid!"

Juno, the protective one, pushed Aurora aside, and my mouth opened to her powerful voice thunder, "Afraid? I am never afraid."

But I was afraid. Not of you, but of these voices inside of me.

I then heard Proserpina hiss, "I know who you are. Stay away from me."

Gently, you called me again. "Mary, my beloved daughter. I see you, and I know you by name. Do not be afraid."

Bellona came forth with rage while little Mary begged to be freed. "Aurora is mine. We made a deal!"

Jesus, merciful Savior, you never gave up on me. You outstretched your hand and laid it upon my head.

"Mary, you are mine. I have the authority to set you free if you so choose. Do you want to be free?"

Miraculously, little Mary regained control and whimpered, "Yes, my Lord."

And just like that, Aurora, Juno, Proserpina, Bellona, and the three other torturous demons left my body.

You gently lifted my chin to look back up at your face and said, "My Child, your sins have been forgiven. Repent, and come follow me."

And I did!

The last 3 years have been the best years of my life.

There were still times I didn't have enough food to eat, a place to sleep, or safety, but instead of slipping into those old sins, I looked to you instead.

Regardless of what happened, I looked at you.

But where are you now? For the first time since you saved me, I'm scared. I can't even speak of the horrors I saw yesterday as I followed you to Calvary.

Your mother was so brave as she held you in her arms. Your blood drenched her clothes as she held your lifeless body close to her.

The Pieta

And then we stood in darkness as they rolled the stone in front of Your tomb.

And darkness is the only thing I have known since then.

Despite her deep sorrow, your mother has assured me over and over to not lose faith- that you are who you say you are.

And so, I trust the sun will once again rise in the morning, and before it does, I will come stand by your tomb and wait.

In expectant love,

Mary of Magdala, your devoted disciple.

Dear reader,

Don't you just love Mary Magdalene! She is such a well-known figure in scripture, yet we really don't know much about her, beyond her incredible story of conversion and her deep love of Our Lord.

The day after Many "writes" this letter, she does in fact go back to Jesus' tomb. And after finding the empty tomb, alerting Peter and John, and encountering two angels, she is greeted by whom she perceives as the gardener.

He asks her, "Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?"

She replied, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him."

Jesus simply says her name, and she recognizes him.

Mary then went to the disciples and said, "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them what he told her.

In being the first to see him, tradition has given her the title "Apostle to the Apostles."  Mary Magdalene wasn't Jesus’ first follower. She didn't have a perfect past, and wasn't handed the keys to the Kingdom.

But she was the one whom Jesus chose to reveal his resurrected body to first.

We have much to learn about her unwavering love and faithfulness.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!

Unit next time, your sister in Christ,

Leah

*To find the real story of Mary Magdalene in the bible, check out Luke 8:1-3, and John 20:1-18