sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet.
They said, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”
As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him,
and I will go and take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned, and said to him, “Rabboni!” which means Master.
Jesus said to her, “Do not touch 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, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.”
So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me.”
REFLECTION:
There is a science called geo-psychology. This deals with prejudices over products and people coming from a particular place.
Some perceptions are positive, some derogative, and most of these are stuck in people’s minds.
Mary of Magdala is one victim of derogative perceptions on economically-challenged Magdala.
Modern writers and documentations try to redeem her from such character and local assassinations.
While these efforts are respectable, they also set aside a more important matter in Mary Magdalene’s discipleship.
She is not stuck on her past. She does not lean on people’s perceptions, but rather on her faith-conviction.
There is no question she was a sinner—in whatever way or trade—but once healed by Jesus,
she became Mary of the Risen Christ no longer Mary of the Dead. We love to linger more in the past of people than celebrate their new lives.
Mary Magdalene showed us how to live forward.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2020
