Saint Mary Magdalene

                 SAINT MARY MAGDALENE- A WOMAN OF THE CHURCH

            On July 22, The Catholic Church will celebrate the Feast of St. Mary of Magdalene.  “The Da Vinci Code” book and movie has introduced many of us to her.  She is a very interesting and mysterious person.  She has been called the “Apostle to the Apostles” according to the Catholic Update, May 2006.

            She was named 14 times in the Bible, more than most of the Apostles.  She was a courageous, brave leader and servant.  She stood by him during his hours of suffering, death and resurrection.  According to scholar Mary Thompson: “She is the only person to be listed in all 4 gospels” and the first person to see Jesus after his resurrection and before he ascended into heave.  She was the first one given a mission by Jesus to say “I have seen the Lord!” and to tell the other Apostles.  Apostle means one who is sent on a mission.  She was the first Apostle.

            The first book I read had quiet a lot about Mary.  She lived in the town of Magdalene on the Sea of Galilee.  When Jesus came to Galilee, she came into the house of Simon and fell on her knees at the feet of Jesus.  She wept bitterly for her sins as she washed his feet with her tears and wiped his feet with her hair.  She then used oil and anointed his feet as she kissed them.  Jesus forgave her of her sins and she joined his group, traveling with him through out Galilee.  When a woman takes the name of her village it means she is not married.  Sometime later she returned to her home of Bethany to live with her brother Lazarus and her sister Martha. (Rev. George Johnson, page 351 to 353)

            Rev. George Johnson’s book stated that “Mary Magdalene was known throughout the country as a very sinful woman and after Jesus forgave her, she lived a holy life.  Matthew, Mark and Luke do not name the woman who washed Jesus feet.  But according to the Catholic Update, May 2006, Pope Gregory delivered a sermon that combined the anonymous sinful woman who washed his feet with Mary of Bethany and Mary Magdalene.  Since Mary was a common name, there is confusion and possible fusion of more than one Mary into Mary Magdalene.  “The Pope also used the Magdalene as a type, a stereotype to show Jesus forgiveness of sin, and probably didn’t think she would mind the soiling of her name.”

            In the three anonymous women the Bible states that there were 7 demons or evil spirits driven out of her, but when evil spirits or demons are driven out of scriptural men it is not associated with sin; this same idea should apply to Mary or the other women.  And the “seven demons” could have been mental problems or common sins so when he cured her of her demons that act could have forged a bond between her and Jesus.

            When Jesus went to Jerusalem, he stopped in Bethany to visit Lazarus, Martha and Mary.  Mary sat at his feet and listened to his every word.  According to Bible history, Martha complained to Jesus that Mary would not help serve the food and Jesus stated that “Mary had made the best choice to listen to him and do not take it away from her.”

            The next time Mary appears is when her brother, Lazarus dies, Mary runs to Jesus and said that if Jesus had been there Lazarus would not have died.  Mary leads him to the grave where Jesus raises Lazarus back to life.  John 11:1-45 names Mary and tells the story so Jesus could show Martha who he was and to help her believe in him and his word.

            Before Jesus returns to Jerusalem for the Last Supper, he stopped in Bethany to Lazarus, Mary and Martha.  Again there was a supper, Martha served, and Lazarus sat and listened while Mary took a pound of ointment and poured it on Jesus head and feet and wiped them with her hair. John 12:1-3 tells the story showing the love of Mary for Jesus because the ointment of Spikenard is very costly and they were not rich.  In fact, Judas Iscariot told Jesus that the Spikenard could have been sold for 300 pence.

            Mary Magdalene was one of the witnesses to the Crucifixion and remained until the body was taken down and laid in the tomb. According to Matthew 27:55-56, Mark 15:40-41, Luke 23:49 and John 19:25, Mary the mother of Jesus and Mary Magdalene were both at the foot of the cross.  After the Sabbath, Mary Magdalene with Mary the mother of James and Salome go to the tomb at sunrise and find the body of Jesus was gone. (Matthew 27:61 and 28:1, Mark 15:47, and 16:1-9 and Luke 23:55-56 and 24:10-11 and John 20:1-2 and 11-18.)  Mary Magdalene then ran to John and Peter telling them he was gone.  After everyone had gone to the tomb and left, Mary Magdalene went back to the tomb and saw Jesus.  She was the first to see Jesus and he told her not to touch him, he had not ascended yet to his father, and Our God.  Jesus told her to go the Apostles and tell them of his ascending into heaven.

            Mary Magdalene was sent on a mission to preach the gospel.  She points the way as a disciple, partner and evangelist.  She was an eyewitness to the wonders of Jesus among us.  She was a witness, the first witness.  If she and the other women had not stood at the  foot of the cross, followed the body to the tomb, and returned on the first day after the Sabbath finding it empty, then announcing it to the disciples we would not have known what had happened.  Mary Magdalene was always with the disciples and is the thread of continuity through his Life, the Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus that started the Christian Religion.  She was a Disciple and Founding Mother of the Christian Church.  She ministered to Jesus during his ministry, sharing things with him, and was one of his faithful during the last hours of his life.

Was Mary Magdalene married to Jesus, that is a debate that Bible scholars with talk about for many years.  I have heard pros and cons concerning this subject.  During that time in Jerusalem, it was a very strong tradition for men to be married and he was 30 when he started his ministry.  There is no evidence that Jesus and Mary were married, or had children, she was special that much is known through the Bible but if she was his wife why didn’t he tell someone to take care of her like he did for his mother?  We know that Mary traveled with Jesus with other women but she was the one that was listed at the foot of the cross, at the tomb and his resurrection.  Whether the Da Vinci Code book/movie is right or wrong, there is no question that Mary Magdalene was a very important woman of the Bible, to Jesus and his life. We as Christians need to celebrate women of the Bible that are just as important as men of the Bible and they are due our respect and love.