HOMILY ON THE FEAST OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE (JULY 22)
Songs of songs 3:1-4; John 20:1-2, 11-18
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Mary Madalene. The Holy Mother church guides us to reflect on her personality in relation to Jesus, leaving her as an exemplary figure that we may follow.
Mary Magdalene was a native of Magdala, a village at the western shore of Galilee, known for commonly fishing. Not so much is said of her but the little spoken of her in the Gospels: she is recognized as a woman
The Gospel of Luke refers to her as “Mary called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, and Joanna, the wife of Herod's steward Chuza, and Susanna and many others, who provided for them (Jesus and his apostles) out of their resources” (Luke 8:2-3)
The Gospels recognized her as one of those who stood by the foot of the cross at Golgotha. “But standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleopas, and Mary Magdalene” (Jn 19:25; Mt 27:55-56; Mk 15:40; Lk 23:49.S he was also there at the burial of Jesus. She and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb (Mt 27:61, Mk15:47
She was the first to recognise the empty tomb and the first to witness the risen Christ. We are told in the Gospel of John: “Early on the first day of the week while it was dark Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, they have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they had laid him” (Jn 20:1-2)
Progressively, Peter and the other disciple came and saw that it had happened as Mary Magdalene told them. While the disciples returned home, she remained there in desperate search of the one who her heart desires. We are told in John 20: 10-11 “But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb”.
While weeping, Jesus appeared and said: “woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for? Supposing him to be a gardener, she said to him, sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away. Jesus now said to her, Mary! And she turned and said in Hebrew Rabboni (which means Teacher)” Jn 20: 14-16.
Beloved in Christ, whatever your sinful state and ugly beginning may be, the word of God tells us: “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool. But if you resist and rebel, you will be devoured by the sword” Isaiah 1:18. In the Gospel, Jesus the Great Physician, tells us: it is not the healthy who needs a doctor but the sick” Lk 5:31; Mk 2:17. Friends in Christ, like Mary Magdalene we can encounter Jesus at the sacrament of penance and be healed of our sins and defects. Through the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist, our apartheid for Jesus the Rise Christ can be satisfied.
Are you considering giving up on the journey of faith? Remember, it was the perseverance of Mary Magdalene that gained her the privilege of encountering the risen Christ. My dear brother and sister in Christ, there is light at the end of the tunnel. Be courage, be perseverant and it shall win you the crown of upgrading glory.
May God bless his words in our hearts through Christ our Lord. Amen
Have a lovely day!
Fr Remi osj
Thanks padre.
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