+ 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 Magdale 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 all 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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