Today we have
magnificent feast of St. Mary Magdalene, "The Penitent. " She was given the name
"Magdalene" because though a Jewish girl, she lived in a Gentile town
called Magdala in northern Galilee, and her culture and manners were those of a
Gentile. St. Luke records that she was a notorious sinner and had seven devils
removed from her. She was present at Our Lord's Crucifixion, and with other
women, was present at Jesus' empty tomb three days later. She was the first to
whom Jesus revealed himself after his resurrection from the dead. The reason this was so is because
Jesus' death and resurrection was all about the forgiveness of sin!
It was only fitting that one of the most notorious sinners of the times was the
first to receive the grace of his presence after his spiritually life-saving
death and resurrection.
What qualified her for this however was not just that she was a classic
sinner, but rather because Jesus read her heart beforehand, he knew her,
especially from the event just preceding his death, when she washed his feet with her tears, and dried them
with her hair. Jesus must have planned right at that very moment
for her to be the first to experience his glory after he rose from the dead –
and she would be the one to carry the news of his resurrection to Peter and the
other Apostles. The truly penitent heart stands in right and merciful
relationship with God who lavishes his forgiveness, healing and blessings upon
it abundantly!
Our readings today are all about Mary's
deep and persistent search for Jesus as her One, True, Lover. The
passage from the Song of Songs is about the deep longing that she, and any soul
has (wittingly or unwittingly) to
be in the presence of the One who is love itself – and God sent his
love in the form of a human person (Jesus) so that the object of our longing
could be found.
The gospel passage is about Mary's desire and ours as well, to cling to
Jesus once we recognize him as Risen Lord, Beloved Savior and True Teacher of
the Way to Eternal Life. The way he desires, however, rather than clinging to
him, is to by means of the power of the Holy Spirit, whom he would and has sent
to us his Church, is for
us to proclaim his life, his words, his deeds and demonstrate the effectiveness
of them by a life dedicated to serving the needs of brothers and sisters
everywhere. The more we do this, the more Jesus and the Spirit
cling to us, fill us and empower us to do the Father's Holy Will, to proclaim
the Gospel and give it credibility by the way we "love one another, from
the heart."
In doing all of this it will feel as though our souls are clinging fast
to God, we will feel his right hand upholding us; under the shadow of his wings
he will be our constant help and we will have reason to shout for joy day in
and day out!
Amen.
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