By William Selvaraj csc –
Readings: Ex 19: 1-2, 9-11, 16-20; Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18
Today, the mother Church celebrates the feast of Mary Magdalene. She is the first one to witness Christ’s resurrection and was a true evangelizer. Gospels set a unique role or place for Mary among the followers of Jesus. She was Jesus’ most ardent and loving follower.
She had stood with Mary at the foot of the cross on that brutal Good Friday afternoon and stood beside Mary during those difficult hours of pain and suffering. She has always been an example of great love and forgiveness. She is known as the apostle to the apostles and is revered as a patron of conversion and contemplation of life. She was chosen to be the first witness to Christ’s resurrection and the first missionary of the good news of the resurrection.
She was the first to come to the tomb of Jesus to find it empty. She did not leave the tomb though Peter and other disciples left. It clearly shows us that her love for the Lord makes her remain near his tomb.
She was finally rewarded by the love of Jesus who appeared to her and called her by name. Her love for Jesus was so immense and great that she was among the last to leave the site of the crucifixion, showing us her bravery in risking her own life in accompanying Jesus to the end.
When a person really experiences the forgiveness of the Lord in life; he /she will be ever be attached to God as a sign of gratitude all through his/her life. That is what happened in the life of Mary Magdalene. She really felt God’s assistance throughout her life and was saved because of Lord Jesus. Today she invites each of us to have the unique experience of meeting the Lord to strengthen our faith to be his committed disciples.