Mary’s Gift to Us!
Fr. Donald Macdonald, SMM
On July 22, the Church celebrates St. Mary Magdalene and therefore, it is appropriate to have an article on an important moment in her life.
Mary’s Gift to Us!
A lovely glimpse of this and what it might mean is seen in St. John’s Gospel. Mary Magdalene is heart-broken and bewildered outside of the empty grave of her Lord. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him” (Jn. 20. 13). She does not have even his dead body to mourn.
Turning to her yet unrecognized Lord, who asks why she is crying, she appeals to him. “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away” (In. 20. 15). “Mary,” says her Lord – and he need say no more. She clings to Him. Her Lord is there.
She is overwhelmed in joy and wonder. Mary knows her crucified and buried Lord is alive. She never again wants to leave His presence. But she is told not to cling but, “go to my brethren and say to them I am ascending to my Father . . .” (Jn. 20:17).
TO HAVE SEEN THE LORD
Given such an experience, her face would tell them what her words conveyed. “I have seen the Lord” (Jn. 20:18). Her glorious Lord, reflecting the presence, love and power of God, would now lodge in her heart. This is where all that is real to a person is found. No longer would she depend on a chance visit to her house, or on an accident of geography to be in his company. As she must have known, as she heard her name on the lips of Christ, heart speaks to heart. His risen transfigured presence is with her in knowledge and love.
Had such feelings evaporated with the passing of time, Peter, Paul and so many others would never have lived the lives they did. It is doubtful whether much of the Gospels would have been recorded, far less treasured. They are not evocative memories of a now dead teacher. The New
Testament experience of those baptized into Christ is of being his brothers and sisters, his contemporaries. The wonder of faith is to be drawn into a personal relationship with their risen and present Lord. He is here now.
THE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD
The experience of Mary Magdalene points to what is intended for every Christian. We are not to mourn a Lord now no longer with us, nor can we enjoy his physical presence as we understand it. But based on our conviction that our once crucified and buried Lord is now alive, He enables us to enjoy the relationship.
“I am the resurrection and the life . . . whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (Jn. 11:26). Presence, power and authority in those words invite us to respond in faith. Eyesight is not meant, but the insight of understanding. The life, death and resurrection were real, as is Jesus’ loving, transfigured presence now. “Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe” (Jn. 20:29).
The experience of Mary Magdalene points to what is intended for every Christian. We are not to mourn a Lord now no longer with us, nor can we enjoy his physical presence as we understand it. But based on our conviction that our once crucified and buried Lord is now alive, he enables us to enjoy the relationship.
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