Mary Magdalene

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ She said to them, ‘They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.’ When she had said this, she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? For whom are you looking?’ Supposing him to be the 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 said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, ‘Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. John 20:11-18

The first evangelists of the resurrection were women, and in particular, Mary Magdalene. She braved the stench and the horror of the tomb. She did not give up when she did not find his body and she ran and announced the resurrection when the disciples told her she was out of her mind. The good news was hers alone to share since she was a living witness, who was unshakeable in her faith. Her life had been a mess until her first encounter with Jesus and then she was unfailing inn her faith. May we be like Mary Magdalene when faced with the horrors and terrors of these days. Let us be ready to carry the good news of God's love and healing for all.

Gracious God, who does not limit your love

you give your spirit to every people and culture

you call the faithful from every time and place

and make women and men your vehicles of love.

We often judge the speaker and deny their words

either they are from the wrong place or class

they do not fit into our understanding of you

yet you put your spirit on all flesh in all times.

Let us today learn your lesson from Mary

you made her a part of your extended family

you brought her into the inner circle of faith

and gave her voice to proclaim your love to all. Amen.