A Reflection for Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
You can find today’s readings here.
“I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” John 20:17
I get angry when I see Mary Magdalene depicted as a prostitute. Like many of Christians, though, I grew up thinking she was just that. The false conception of Mary Magdalene can be traced back to (at least) Pope Gregory the Great. No doubt, filmmakers are drawn by her conversion story—from prostitute to saint. But there’s simply no Scriptural evidence for it.
It took a while for me to let go of who I thought she was and begin to see Mary Magdalene for who she really is. As I sit with today’s Gospel, two things emerge. First of all, Mary Magdalene loved Jesus with her whole self. But secondly, she needed to let go of whatever limited conception she had of Jesus.
Mary’s love for the Lord is so great that she wants to be with him even as he suffers on the cross. Loving others means being there even when they are in pain. As my friends and loved ones grow older or struggle with illness, Mary’s example challenges me to accompany them. Frankly, her example challenges me to accompany even those whom I do not know as well.
Before Mary meets Jesus at the tomb, according to the Gospel of John, Peter and the beloved disciple were there. But they left before seeing Jesus. Mary’s love for Jesus compelled her to stay at his burial site. When she encounters a man she believes to be a gardener, her first question is about Jesus’ body. She will care for it, because she loves him. She models burying the dead as a corporal work of mercy and models how Christians recognize the dignity of the human body. And then, after Jesus called her by name, she turns and recognizes her great teacher.
But, it seems from the passage, Mary also needs to accept that Jesus will now have a different kind of relationship to his followers. To her credit, she seems to quickly let go of her previous conceptions of Jesus, believe what she witnessed and share it with others.
Like I was challenged to let go of my preconceptions of Mary Magdalene, I must also let go of any limits I place on Jesus. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I can contemplate Jesus’ resurrection and gently push away my preconceived notions. I can let myself enter the mystery of Jesus rising and share it with others. He is risen, indeed.
