7/22/2015 – Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene – John 20:1-2, 11-18

      Other than the Virgin Mary, there are few women mentioned more frequently in the New Testament than Mary Magdalene.  The fact that her memorial is placed in our Church’s liturgical calendar says a lot about her importance in our Church's community of saints and in the Early Church.  When the book The Da Vinci Code came out, a lot of new interest developed in the identity of Mary Magdalene, as that book claimed that she had been Jesus’ wife and had a child with him.  It seems that there has been a lot of confusion about Mary Magdalene’s identity for many centuries in the Church. Pope Gregory the Great preached a homily in the 6^th century that blurred the lines between Mary of Bethany, Mary Magdalene, and the anonymous penitent woman described in the Gospel of Luke.  An internet search reveals cover stories on Mary Magdalene in the popular news magazine Time and US News and World Report, with Time magazine’s article asking the question: “Mary Magdalene: Saint or Sinner?” 

      As we reflect upon Mary Magdalene today, it might be good for us to recall how the men and women declared to be saints in our Catholic faith were holy people, with human strengths and human weaknesses, how they lived extraordinary lives of faith, but lives that were fully human as well.  Each saint that our Church honors responded to God's call to use his own unique gifts.  God calls each of us to be saints, just as he called Mary Magdalene in a very special way. Mary Magdalene is often called the apostles to the apostles for the way she ministered to the apostles and helped them gain greater understanding about Jesus death and resurrection, which is described in today’s Gospel. Her witness to the resurrection and the manner in which she gives testimony to Christ’s life and ministry is a great example for all of us.  Like Mary Magdalene, may we all recognize him as our Savoir and our great teacher.  And may we all go out to the world and proclaim our faith to all.