The Church recognizes the role of Mary Magdalene as one of the first witnesses to Christ’s resurrection and as a true and authentic evangelizer of the faith. In recognition of her important role in the history of the Catholic faith, Pope Francis raised the July 22 memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a feast on the church's liturgical calendar in 2016.
In all the four of the Gospels, Mary Magdalene was a witness to the crucifixion of Jesus. In the three Synoptic Gospels, she was present at his burial. Our reading from the Gospel of John today focuses upon her visit to Christ’s tomb. She arrives at his tomb to find it empty. She breaks down in tears at the empty tomb. In her grief, she does not recognize Jesus when he appears to her. She is blinded by her sorrow and her own failings. She is overwhelmed by the death of Jesus and by her our struggles.
We hear Jesus instruct Mary Magdalene to deliver a message to his disciples about his death and resurrection, that he is going to his father and our father, to his God and our God, instructing us that we have the ability to have a personal relationship with God. Through those instructions, Christ teaches us that through his suffering and death, he has transcended his earthly death and has opened the gates of heaven to us.
We can relate to Mary Magdalene because her journey is so relatable. We can be blinded by our own fears and our own hardships in life. However, the faith and courage of Mary Magdalene is an example of faith for all of us to follow. Mary Magdalene learns to have faith and trust in the presence of Christ’s love and mercy. She is the apostle to the apostles. She brings them news of Christ’s resurrection. Her witness was so important to the Early Church. We honor Mary Magdalene today. We unite our prayers with her prayers.
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