The opening prayer of today's liturgy begins: "Father, your Son first entrusted to Mary Magdalene the joyful news of his resurrection."  Think of the consequences of that!  The definition of an "Apostle" is one who was with Jesus during his public life and witnessed the resurrection.  That would make Mary Magdalene not only the equivalent of an apostle, but even with a certain primacy clearly adduced by her presence in the central mystery of Jesus' passion, death and resurrection.  All three synoptic Gospels have Mary Magdalene as a key  figure.  For instance, in Matthew's account of the passion: "There were many women there (the apostles are not mentioned), looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him.  Among them were Mary Magdalene ...."  Then, after his burial, "But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary remained sitting there, facing the tomb." (Mt. 27:61)   And today's Gospel -- along with all three of the synoptics--has Mary Magdalene the first person to experience the Risen Christ.
 
Those of you who are familiar with the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius know that this is a bit too much for the devotion of St. Ignatius, who makes Mary, the Mother of Jesus, the first to experience Jesus as risen, and who mentions Mary Magdalene only once, as the "Mary" who is the recipient of the second apparition. But it seems to me that Ignatius'  "Contemplation to Obtain Love," which directly follows the Resurrection meditations, could easily have been influenced by the description of Mary Magdalene's encounter with Jesus in the Gospel reading for today. Could it be that Ignatius himself was more influenced by this than the culture and piety of his time allows him to publicly admit? 
 
I say all this not to stir up controversy, but because it has become so much a part of my own spirituality and because it is so important for the renewal of the Church today.  When I was growing up in a wonderful Catholic environment and even in my early years in Jesuit formation, I scarcely gave Mary Magdalene a second look.  I was really blind to her intimate role in salvation history.  It was only during the study of Scripture that my eyes were opened.  Since that time, this mysterious saint has become so important to my spiritual life!  While I was in Jerusalem seven years ago, I found myself drawn irresistibly to the (Russian style) Church of St. Mary Magdalene, and her name continues to creep into the colloquies and litanies of my prayer life. While presiding at the Eucharist, I find myself longing to include her name in the part of the Eucharistic prayer that recalls the saints, and I keep wondering why her feast is only a memorial and not a solemnity.   Her closeness to Christ and the mysteries of his life cannot be denied.  This is Gospel truth -- literally -- and it may help all of us overcome some of the barriers and  blinders that keep us from the full radiance of the Gospel.
 
Today I can think of no better way of praying than to be with St. Mary Magdalene as she contemplates Jesus -- Jesus in his public life, Jesus on the Cross, Jesus in the tomb, Jesus risen from the dead, Jesus gloriously yet almost playfully reaching out to her in her intense grief, immeasurable loss, and relentless search  ("I sought him whom my heart loves, but I did not find him."),  and gently calling her name: "Mary."  All God's promises fulfilled: the triumph of love over death!