Overview:
The Feast of Mary Magdalene
A Reflection for the Feast of Mary Magdalene
On the first day of the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.” (John 20:1-2)
Find today’s readings here.
One of my favorite details in the resurrection story is that Jesus entrusts Mary Magdalene to be the one to go out and proclaim the Good News. Before Peter or any of the apostles, it is Mary Magdalene who goes and tells them, “I have seen the Lord.”
This proclamation, Mary Magdalene’s witness, begins with a personal encounter. She doesn’t set out to become the first evangelist. She didn’t know this was coming, didn’t have time to rehearse or prepare how she would react. She comes to the tomb grieving, looking for the person she loves. It is only after Jesus calls her by name that everything changes. Her witness isn’t rooted in having the perfect words or all the answers, but rather flows from knowing Christ personally.
I think that is what Mary Magdalene continues to teach me. Faith isn’t primarily about what I do for God; it is about allowing myself to encounter him again and again. Everything else—how I serve, the stories I tell, the way I love my family and the way I live my life—flows from knowing Christ in a real, genuine way.
I also love that Jesus chose a woman to carry the news of the resurrection. In a culture where women’s voices weren’t given the same authority, Jesus entrusted Mary Magdalene with the most important message in history. He saw her, called her by name and sent her to proclaim the Good News.
As I continue to grow in faith, I hope I can follow her example. Not by having all the answers, but by continuing to seek Christ, listen for his voice and share with others what I have experienced of his love.
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