July 22 – Monday: Empty Tomb to Rabbuni – Wilson SVD
Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Saint Mary Magdalene, Feast
Song 3:1-4. 2 Cor 5:14-17. Jn 20:1, 11-18.
Today, we celebrate the feast of one of the important woman saints, St. Mary Magdalene, who is mentioned most in the Gospels after the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Her identity: In reality, little is known about Mary Magdalene. Magdalene may indicate that she came from the town of Magdala (Migdal), located on the west shore of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Gennesaret). Some other opinions are that Magdala means "tower, magnificent, or great" and that calling her Mary Magdalene is like calling her "Mary the Great, Mary the Noble. But either way, she is presented as an independent woman—by place of birth or nobleness of being—rather than by husband or other male relationship as was usual at the time. This is a clue to her strength, power, and uniqueness.
And on her Feast day we need to be clear about her identity. Mary had experienced a healing cum transformative encounter with Jesus. Jesus healed her of her infirmities, and the healing brought in transformation in her life, and she began to follow Jesus. There is nothing in the Bible about her life before. She’s not an adulteress, a prostitute, or a harlot. The New Testament doesn’t offer any commentary on her sexuality or marital status at all. We only know something was wrong and Jesus healed her and she decided to follow Him. She opens her heart and life to God.
The Bible presents to us the following information about Mary Magdalene:
She was one of Jesus’ female followers.
She was present at the crucifixion.
Jesus healed her of infirmities.
She was the first witness of the resurrection.
She was the first to proclaim to the Apostles that Jesus is risen.
Apostle to Apostles: St Thomas Aquinas was the first to call St Mary Magdalene ‘apostolorum apostola’ – Apostle of the Apostles. He said: 'she had the office of an apostle; indeed, she was an apostle to the apostles as it was her task to announce our Lord’s resurrection to the disciples.' Mary Magdalene is therefore, the first preacher of the Risen Christ and Pope John Paul II rightly points out she is “the first eyewitness of the Risen Christ”.
Empty tomb to Rabbuni: Mary Magdalene, weeping, stands outside the empty tomb. She’s lost her beloved Master who transformed her life, and healed her wounded soul. She’s outside His tomb. Has the body been robbed? Has His body been desecrated? In her distress, Mary encounters the risen Christ, and doesn’t recognize Him. Her experience of the risen Christ progresses from the empty tomb to Robbuni;
She sees the empty tomb – She turns from the empty tomb and sees a gardener – she exclaims Rabbuni, recognising the risen Lord. Mary’s faith journey is unique, it is not an emotional attachment but a progressive and profound experience of the Lord. The moment of recognition is the start of a new life and a new mission for her. She becomes an apostle to the apostles. She is overwhelmed by the risen Christ. She had a deep desire for the Lord. She was passionate about doing whatever was possible for the Lord. She participated in the evangelical mission of the risen Christ.
Our Takeaway
1. Am I passionate about the Lord? Do I run in the early hours of the day to search for the Lord?
2. Mary’s faith journey is unique, it is not an emotional attachment but a progressive and profound experience of the Lord. What about my faith journey?
3. The moment of recognition of the risen Lord is the start of a new life and a new mission for her. What/when is my moment of recognising the Lord? What changes do I experience?
Wilson SVD
Divine Word Missionary
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