Just a rough reflection as I was celebrating the Holy Mass this morning at sisters' convent chapel on the liturgical commemoration of St. Mary Magdalene. It stroke me that her feast is all about the Resurrection of the Lord, the readings, Gospel acclamation, Mass formula... She was rewarded by the Lord the very first audience with Him after He rose from the dead. Why she?
It crossed my mind as I was reading the Gospel (which I shared with sisters present there in my short homily), that St. Mary Magdalene was granted this first audience with Risen Lord because she actually was with Him everywhere, wherever He went. She was always there for Him and with Him. Listening to Him, attending to His needs as other women who followed Him and His disciples (as we read in Gospels)...
She fulfilled in a perfect way the wish and prayer of Jesus in His testament He gave us in St. John Gospel - when He said to His Father that He wanted His disciples to be wherever He would be... St. Mary Magdalene had a full knowledge of Jesus and His teachings, His life and His whereabouts. Contrary to apostles and Christ's disciples who - in fact - had only partial knowledge of Him, as most fled Him in time of Passion and Cross, and many left Him when He spoke about the mystery of the Eucharist...
Mary of Magdala was a faithful follower of Christ. She was there where Jesus was. She loved Him with all her heart, not with her words and promises only. And she proved her love by courageously standing by Him always...
The question pops up - relevant to our lives. Who among us is like Mary of Magdala? Who among us claims in full truth that she or he is always and everywhere with Christ - in His glory, in His teachings, in His Passion, on His Cross, in His death and burial, in His Resurrection, in His Church?
Who among us has a full knowledge of Christ as Mary of Magdala had? Who has guts to stand by Christ with heart full of love of Him no matter what? Especially in our times?
Think about it.
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