Today, on the eve of Mary Magdalene’s feast day, we reflect on her story and what it has to offer.
Hunger Cloth “Biblical Women – Signposts to the Kingdom of God” by Indian artist Lucy D’Souza. Mary Magdalene is represented in the bottom left corner. The original is in All Hallows church, Leeds.
Mary - Jesus’ close friend, rather than his Mother - was recently upgraded! Her Saint day in the calendar (22 July) was designated a feast, or special celebration, by the Roman Catholic Pope Francis in 2016.
Mary Magdalene has had a chequered past, long regarded as a reformed prostitute in popular culture, despite having been released from her ‘sinner’ role. It takes a long time to erase a reputation of nearly 1400 years - even when it was forged as a result of rolling several biblical women into one, in order to portray an iconic “fallen woman”!
Interestingly, the Eastern Orthodox Church has always depicted Mary as virtuous. For many in that tradition, she is the bearer of the good news of the resurrection. And today, she is more often seen across the churches as an apostle, disciple, and friend of Jesus.
“Soon afterwards, he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna and many others, who provided for them out of their resources. ”
Reflection
Here, Luke introduces Mary as one of a small number of women of independent means who had money to support Jesus. She had 7 demons removed from her - but we have no further details; her healing may have inspired her to follow Jesus.
She came from the prosperous trading town of Magdala by the Sea of Galilee, the scene of a bloody uprising against the Romans. She was Jewish and, unusually, not defined by her family role.
Available sources suggest Mary was close to Jesus. She had an intense spiritual relationship with him and was a key figure in his inner circle. Having anticipated and witnessed Jesus’ torture and execution, she offers a remarkable model of discipleship through times of suffering. She is a supreme example of faithfulness.
And Jesus, in turn, gave Mary a new role that was remarkable for a woman of her times. She was not expected to remain silent but to teach the male disciples by speaking of her experience. She would become a spiritual guide to them. She stood her ground, lived courageously and spoke with authority about what she knew of the suffering and pain of life.
Mary Magdalene is a person of great insight and divine wisdom.
To ask yourself:
How does this depiction of Mary Magdalene ‘colour in’ the bible stories, for you?
What do you think her support meant to Jesus?
Who has the power to tell the story of God - are you overlooking any of them?
What unfair labels do you put on people and why?
Who has been important to you as a model of faith and what was it about them that struck you?
What spiritual wisdom have you gained in your life that you can share?
This reflection will be used as part of a Virtual Simple Quiet Day from Whirlow today. Feel free to join us in spirit, spending an extended period of time quietly contemplating Mary’s story, hearing what it might have to say to you.