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

Today is the feast of Mary Magdalene. She was either alone or with the other women at the tomb. We know some thought her a fallen woman, yet whatever was thought and is thought of her, she was the first or among the first to proclaim the resurrection. In some Gospel stories, we hear that no one believed her, but she kept her story and refused to be silenced. Throughout the history of our faith, too many women have been silenced, shunned and put away. Yet Mary Magdalene and others remind us that our faithfulness will always carry the good news, and we can carry good news as we serve the world in Jesus' name. It never matters how others see us, it matters how God knows us.

Precious Creator, who gives your truth to all people

you gave Mary eyes to see and ear to hear Good news

and made her courageous telling her eyewitness story.

We live in times when many are shunned and silenced

society has made into evil what you have called good

and forgotten to listen to your truth and commands.

Let us today, in honor of Mary Magdalene, live fully

sharing your good news to all who will embrace it

and living your love in these challenging times. Amen.