Daily Reflection
July 22nd, 2006
by

Cathy Weiss Pedersen

Campus Ministry
Click here for a photo of and information on this writer.

Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene
Micah 2:1-5
Psalm 10:1-2, 3-4, 7-8, 14
John 20:1-2, 11-18

“And Jesus said, “Mary…go to my sisters and brothers and tell them…”

Summer time, when the responsibilities of my Campus Ministry position are less demanding, I find time for more leisure, relaxation, visiting with friends and family, catching up on never ending projects at home and personal renewal. I am also able to continue some ongoing research and study regarding an illness of a family member. In today’s computer age, when ‘googling’ is one means of accessing a plethora of information on any given topic, the task of sorting through tons of information can be daunting. Sorting through what is pertinent and helpful becomes a major challenge as I go from one website to another, sifting through what is meaningful for me as I try to make sense of the illness and implications for my family.

Unlike my sometimes frustrating and confusing re-‘searching’ on the internet, today’s Gospel of John presents a clear picture of a faith-filled woman in Jesus’ life. Not only was Mary Magdalene at the tomb early in the morning to anoint Jesus’ body (which she discovers is gone), but ran to Peter and the others to tell them. Unbelieving, John and Peter run to check out Mary’s story. After confirming what Mary has announced as true, the men return home. However, Mary remains at the tomb weeping. It is then that Jesus approaches her, yet unrecognized, until he utters her name, “Mary” and sends her to announce his resurrection. At the sound of Jesus’ calling her by name, Mary realizes that Jesus is alive and witnesses the good news to the sisters and brothers.

Today is the celebration of Mary Magdalene as the ‘apostle to the apostles’ (as the early Church referred to her). It was clear to the early Christians reading of the scriptures, that Mary Magdalene was indeed a messenger/preacher of the good news that Jesus was risen, and as all four gospels testify, Mary Magdalene and the women were the first to bring the good news to the other sisters and brothers who were still mourning Jesus’ death.

Unfortunately the Catholic Church of the west seemed to lose sight of this tremendous role of Mary Magdalene for over 1400 years from the 5th century until the late 20th century, teaching instead, a tradition that confused Mary Magdalene with the penitent woman of the gospels (and traditionally referring to her as a repentant prostitute). In 1969 the Roman Catholic Church revised its liturgical calendar and dropped the definer, ‘penitent’, and finally aligned their teachings with the Church of the East by renaming Mary Magdalene as a saint.

It’s still baffling to me how blinded I (as the well as the majority of believers) remained to the story of Mary Magdalene’s witness to the resurrection, which was so overshadowed by the tradition of her as prostitute.
How often this happens in everyday life, when we pigeon-hole people in our lives with labels or mis-identify people based on partial and/or untrue stories. We tend to miss seeing the person for who she/he really is as a God-presence in our lives and limit our ability to let God be revealed by the person.

My prayer on this great celebration of Mary Magdalene is that I will be open to God’s revelation in the lives of those around me, rather than be closed-minded by my blindness and labeling of others.

Click on the link below to send an e-mail response
to the writer of this reflection.
pfamily@creighton.edu
Let Your Friends Know About This Reflection By Sending Them An E-mail

Go To The ONLINE MINISTRIES Home Page

Collaborative Ministry Office Guestbook