Mark 16: The Magdalene
Monday, August 12, 2019
The Evangelists tell us that Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene. July 22 is her feast day. When we pause to reflect on this singular woman, we wonder . . . What must she have been truly like? What was she thinking as she stooped to look into the tomb as John tells us in his Gospel? What is her real story?
St. Gregory the Great tells us something of her character. From MAGNIFICAT: It is true that she had already seen that the sepulcher was empty, and had already reported that the Lord had been taken away. Why did she stoop down again, why did she long again to see? It is not enough for a lover to have looked once, because the force of love intensifies the effort of the search. She sought a first time and found nothing; she persevered in seeking, and so it happened that she found him. It came about that her unfulfilled desires increased, and as they increased they took possession of what they found.
From the Mass readings: The Bride says: on my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves – I sought him but I did not find him. I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. The watchmen came upon me, as they made their rounds of the city: Have you seen him whom my heart loves? I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. (Song of Songs 3:1-4b)
O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. ( Psalm 63)
What is the Magdalene’s story? Why does she come with the other women, worrying about who will move away the stone, carrying the spices for embalming? Why does she return, bending to look another time when she knows the tomb to be empty?
Any one of us who has truly loved understands this force of love about which St. Gregory writes.
Any one of us who has sought that which has been lost has felt this sorrow.
Any one of us who has persisted in our search has found this joy.
And so we wonder . . . what is the Magdalene’s real story?
Images from: https://thenoontimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/07/henryk_siemiradzki-_christ_and_sinner-_the_first_meeting_of_christ_and_mary_magdalene-_18731.jpg and http://www.bible-topten.com/MaryMagdalene.htm
Cameron, Peter John. “Meditation.” MAGNIFICAT. 7.23 (2008). Print.
For more on some of the many portraits and statues of Mary Magdalene, click on the images above or go to: http://www.bible-topten.com/MaryMagdalene.htm
The Noontimes 