Growing up in St. Louis, I lived in St. Mary Magdalene Parish.  My first images of Mary Magdalene were actually based upon the wonderful Sisters of St. Joseph de Carondelet who taught me there in the parish school.  All of my memories of those sisters were warm, generous and loving and as a result, so were my feelings towards Mary Magdalene.  Later, when I learned that her life prior to her conversion by Jesus was something completely different, I was a bit disoriented trying to put together two very different images of the woman, one good, one not.

When Jesus first appeared following his resurrection, he chose Mary Magdalene.  He knew the two lives she had led but believed in her good self maybe in part because she was so fully accepting of him.  She trusted in him without reservation.  Unlike others to whom he appeared later, Mary Magdalene never questioned that the man who was with her was Lord.  The day she accepted him, her life changed forever, and forever to the good. 

Each day, we have to make the same choice.  Will we live our lives as good, generous and loving individuals, or will we be selfish, evil and distrusting?  Don’t we like ourselves more when we choose the path that Jesus has set for us?  Aren’t we ashamed when we choose the opposite one?

 I’m in love with the faith of Mary Magdalene who is completely trusting and accepting.  I wonder if I would have recognized Jesus had he appeared to me?  And even more, I wonder if he has and I didn’t.