saint mary magdalene

JMJ
AMDG

Mary Magdalene is the woman whom Jesus set free from seven demons who became a disciple and followed him to the cross and was there at the tomb early on Sunday morning while it was still dark. She was sent to tell the apostles that He had risen, and so because she's the first official missionary, she holds a special place in my heart. Some people, myself included, go with the theory that Mary Magdalene is the reformed prostitute who anointed Jesus' feet and washed them with her tears and dried them with her hair. Some people say no, that was a different woman. it's also clear as to whether or not Mary Magdalene is the Mary who was the sister of Lazarus and Martha.

Whoever she is, Mary Magdalene was a mess before Jesus delivered her. She was broken and lost and then He picked her up out of the dust of her sins and her mess and she became a perfect, god-fearing saint of a woman.

Except she didn't.

oh, and check this out. i'd never heard it before
and it's super cool. 

She didn't trust that He would rise again, because on Sunday morning, she was going to anoint His body.

She was so distraught she didn't recognize Him, thinking He was the gardener.

And when He called her name---Mary

--she knew He was calling her, and she ran to Him.

Still, not in quite the right way at first. He told her to stop clinging to Him{stop touching Him} He was asking her to love Him as her Savior, and not just as her teacher. He was asking her to proclaim Him risen; He was asking her to live for Him every day for as long as she lived because He loves her and He didn't want to spend eternity without her.

And she did; she loved him with everything she was, but because she was human she was a sinner and according to tradition, she spent years living alone in the desert praying and fasting.

Mary Magdalene gives me a lot of hope, because I'm a mess.

It's easy to think, after a conversion or a retreat or a really good homily or Confession or any deep, profound spiritual experience, that you Have Got It All Under Control. It's easy to think that your life will now change and you'll just sail along with life and waltz straight into heaven.

Be still a moment. Can you hear the angels laughing?

You don't have it under control. A day or a week or a month or a year or five years later I guarantee you will be losing your mind over nothing and you will be cranky and far from God and be the antithesis of Under Control.

Sure, you can change your life, or rather, let God change it for you. But you're still human, and like Mary Magdalene, even after He's delivered you, you can still doubt. You probably will doubt. You'll probably have days of crying over nothing and days where you go to confession for that stupid thing that you just can't seem to get over.

And that's okay. Sure, strive for holiness. Strive to be perfect, as your Father in Heaven is perfect.

But remember, when you fall, He will always pick you back up again, no matter how many times you've fallen before or what you've done in the past.

Mary Magdalene is a great reminder of this, and as I stumble along the road to Heaven, tripping over my own feet, I ask her to pray for me, and I ask Jesus for the mercy He showed her.

St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us!