July 22, 2025

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Oh majestic St. Mary Magdalene, shining pillar of the church, who first came to Jesus’ tomb before sunrise, such was her devotion and longing. Without St. Mary Magdalene, would we have known about the two angels in white sitting in the tomb where Jesus’ head and feet had been, like two cherubim in the ark?  When Jesus called her name, she immediately replied “Teacher!”  No fear, no shock that she might be seeing a ghost – she simply recognized his voice and knew it was him.

Without St. Mary Magdalene, would we have heard about Jesus saying, “Don’t hang on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father.”  To her first, Jesus gave the instruction, “Go to my brothers and tell them, I am going to my father and your Father, to my God and your God.”  So it was Mary who first reported to the disciples that she had seen the Lord and relayed his message.

In so many ways, Mary models our discipleship for us to emulate. In her longing, she sees the empty tombs and in that emptiness the two angels. Her mind is open, and she is simply looking. She does not run around everywhere searching, but stands there weeping. Her longing brings Jesus, who asks why she is weeping and who she is looking for. By simply being present she meets the Lord and then bears his message to the others.

Beautiful Mary Magdalene.  Sometimes it is not easy to simply be with the longing for God, but that is the path. Amen.