July 22nd - St. Mary Magdalene

 

Today is the feast of St. Mary Magdalene. The name Magdalene comes from the town, Magdela, in Galilee, where she was from. Most believe, including St. Clement of Alexandria, that she is the woman who poured perfume on the feet of Jesus. She is the woman whom Jesus cast out seven demons from her. Mary Magdalene was one of the women, who accompanied Jesus, and followed Him throughout His ministry. It is certain she with St. John, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and the other women, who stood at the foot of the Cross of Our Blessed Lord. Tradition has it Jesus first appeared to His Mother, the Blessed Virgin, and then to Mary Magdalene, before appearing to the apostles.

It was Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus entrusted the joyful news of the Resurrection, as He told her to tell the apostles. She is therefore called the apostle, to the apostles. One tradition holds she traveled with the Blessed Virgin and St. John, to Ephesus, where she died and was buried. Another tradition states she lived the last 30 years of her life in a cavern as a hermit dedicated to God.

Today’s readings remind us of Mary Magdalene’s constant search for her beloved, and her deep longing within her heart to hear the voice of Jesus call her name. After she finds Peter, she said to him, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him?” When she returns to the tomb and then sees the angels, she repeats what she said to Peter, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they put Him.” And when she sees Jesus, but doesn’t recognize Him, she states once again her longing to be with Jesus. She said, “Sir, if you carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him.”

Her hope to find the dead body of Jesus was rewarded, with something far more than what she anticipated. She sees the living, risen body of Christ, and gazes upon His glorified face, but only after Jesus said her name, “Mary”, did she recognize it was Him. When she heard the voice of Jesus, she rejoiced, and it was then her deep interior longing to be with Jesus was realized.

Now, as we prepare to gaze upon and receive the Body of the Risen Lord in the Eucharist, may the deepest longing in our heart be satisfied when hear the voice Jesus call our name within us.