St. Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord

＊＊＊ 1st Reading ＊＊＊

Jeremiah 1:1, 4-10

These are the words of Jeremiah son of  Hilkiah,

One of the priests at Anathoth in the territory of Benjamin. A word of Yahweh came to me, “Even before I formed you in the womb I have known you; even before you were born I had set you apart, and appointed you a prophet to the nations!”

 I said, “Ah, Lord Yahweh! I do not know how to speak; I am still young!” But Yahweh replied, “Do not say; ‘I am still young’, for now you will go whatever be the mission I am entrusting to you, and you will speak of whatever I command you to say. 

Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you – it is Yahweh who speaks!”  Then Yahweh stretched out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me,

“Now I have put my words in your mouth. See! Today I give you authority over nations and over kingdoms to uproot and to pull down, to destroy and to overthrow,

to build and to plant.”

 

Ps 71:1-2, 304a, 5-6ab, 15 & 17

I will sing of your salvation.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

John 20:1-2, 11-18

Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved.

And she said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don’t know where they have laid him.”  Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside; she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet.

They said, “Woman, why are you weep­­ing?” She answered, “Because they have taken my Lord and I don’t know where they have put him.”  As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, “Wo­man, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?”

She thought it was the gardener and answered him, “Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.”  Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him, “Rabboni” – which means, Master. Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father.

But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God.” So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me.”

 

Gospel Reflection：

There is a science called geopsychology. This deals with prejudices over products and people coming from a particular place. Some perceptions are positive, some derogative, and most of these are stuck in people’s minds.

Mary of Magdala is one victim of derogative perceptions on economically-challenged Magdala. Modern writers and documentations try to redeem her from such character and local assassinations.  While these efforts are respectable, they also set aside a more important matter in Mary Magdalene’s discipleship. She is not stuck on her past.

She does not lean on people’s perceptions, but rather on her faith-conviction. There is no question she was a sinner-in whatever way or trade-but once healed by Jesus, she  became Mary of the Risen Christ no longer Mary of the Dead. We love to linger more in the past of people than celebrate their new lives. Mary Magdalene showed us how to live forward.