1.2Cor
5:14-17
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2.John
20:1-2,11-18
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REFLECTIONS AND
MEDITATIONS
Mary Magdalene a woman
to admire
The question for
reflection and meditation to us all is that, how do we recognize the risen Lord
into our lives? The message of Mary to the disciples was “I have seen the Lord”
is core foundation to Christian faith. We need to meet the risen Lord with eyes
of faith.
The Gospel calls her “
Mary who is named Magdalene,” meaning she came from Magdala, a small town near Tiberius
on the western shore of lake Galilee. About her family background it is not well established from the history. However, she was one of the women who travelled with Jesus and supported
him financially (Lk8:2), it seems that she must have had some independent
income source. According to synoptic gospels, Mark and Luke, Mary had seven
demons driven out of her by Jesus. She was present at his crucifixion and
burial and of course, as in today’s Gospel, his resurrection.
Most people think of
Mary Magdalene as the combination of women mentioned in the gospels. In our own
time, how would we feel if Mary Magdalene were to walk and be in our company
today? Would we accept that we know nothing about her and try to find out more?
Or would we cling to all those colorful impressions about her, thinking they
might be true, for it is a common saying that there is no smoke without fire?
Would be our judgement be based on the real person or on the Magdalene of
gossip and rumor. It is our experience that too many people tend to preface judgments first and find out the facts later. It is the lesson from the gospel
reading that people who want to follow Christ need to be aware of the
temptation to pre-judge others. We all carry our own prejudices based on who we
are in life ( our social and economical status).
Mary Magdalene being caste out seven demons, probably had to endure a lot of negative responses from
others. Who would want to be in company with a mad woman? Parents would warn
their children to avoid her company to avoid being contaminated with the demons
that she had been possessed, Yet Jesus with the spirit of healing and
compassion, reached out to the real Mary, the woman whom people regarded as
nothing in the community. Mary responded by devoting her entire life to
following Jesus and supporting his ministry, no matter what it might cost
financially or emotionally.
In popular devotion,
Mary Magdalene is patroness of penitents, reformed prostitutes, perfumers,
hairdressers and apothecaries (those who provide and sell medicines). In
various paintings she is depicted in a posture of penance or an attitude of
reflection, at the foot of the cross or before a crucifix, at the empty tomb,
or meeting the risen Christ.
The gospel reading for
her feast portrays her as a woman whose devotion to Jesus brought her to the
tomb early on that first Sunday morning. Her heartfelt devotion to Jesus also
left her outside the tomb weeping tears of loss when she discovered that the
body of Jesus was not there. She sought the Lord but could not find him.
However, the Lord came seeking her and found her when he called her by her
name, “Mary.” Like Mary Magdalene, we too seek the Lord, and like her, we are
also the objects of the Lord’s search. In fact the Lord’s search for us is
prior to our search for him. However, how much do we struggle to search for the
Lord like Mary, the Lord always makes his way to us and calls us by our name.
Jesus is the good shepherd who, having laid down his life for us, now calls us
by name, the Lord also sends us out, as he sent out Mary Magdalene, to bring
good news of his Easter presence to those we meet. The Lord who calls us by
name also asks us to be his messengers to others.
Hakuna maoni:
Chapisha Maoni