Today we celebrate the feast of apostola apostolorum – the "apostle of the apostles!" Mary of Magdala was a devoted disciple of Jesus who played a very important role in events of his death and resurrection. She was present at Calvary when he died; she was the one to whom the risen Jesus first revealed himself on Easter Morning.
In order to prepare her for these events – she herself had to become spiritually ready! When she first met Jesus, she was anything but a disciple. The spirit of the world possessed her in at least seven different major ways – and her spiritual life was anything but alive and active.
Jesus cast out from her these "demons" because he saw her potential, he saw her as she could be, he saw her as one who had the ability to love greatly and courageously. It was at that point that she began to cling to Jesus, cling to his every word, cling to his every action! She was now a sincere and repentant sinner; and she never forgot the fact that she was a sinner, and could, at any moment become one again, without the help of Jesus. And so she became a true and faithful disciple to ensure that this would not happen again.
This is the same Mary who washed the feet of Jesus with her tears and dried them with her hair – when she notices that Jesus was invited to a dinner and no one washed his feet when he arrived as was the custom. The tears of a penitent person are always welcome and appreciated in the sight of God.
The first reading today tells us the value of the resurrection: just as it produces newness of life in Jesus, so too it produces newness of life in those who are baptized into his name! Not just the same old life, renewed; but a WHOLE NEWNESS OF BEING – a whole new creation! One day the entire old order shall pass away and everything will be caught up in the new order – and it will be wonderful!
The gospel passage is a narration of the first hours of this new creation: the morning of the Resurrection. Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene, who comes to the tomb to honor his body with anointing. In the course of the events, he calls her name: "Mary" – and then she recognizes him, who to that point seemed unrecognizable – and she encountered THE RISEN LORD! It was an amazing moment for them both! She got down on the ground and again began to cling to him!
Jesus then "sent her" to Peter and the other Apostles to tell them what she is now seeing and experiencing! She is the first witness of the Resurrection! She has been chosen to be the Apostle of the Apostles! She runs with the good news! and is so very excited!
We too have been chosen by Jesus, who calls us by name (at our baptism) to go forth with the message of the Gospel: the message that IT IS TRUE! HE IS ALIVE! THERE IS A NEW CREATION! AND ALL ARE INVITED TO PARTICIPATE IN IT! We are, as it were, apostoli apostolorum – "apostles of the apostles!" Like Mary, we must cling to Jesus' every thought, word and deed to know how to live out this newness of life and how to deliver the message as he intends! And one day it will mean for all of us LIFE FOR EVER IN THE KINGDOM PREPARED FOR US FROM THE FOUNDATIONS OF THE WORLD! AMEN!
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