Mary of Magdala

April 22, 2017
Saturday in
the Octave of Easter
1st Reading: Acts 4:13–21
Gospel: Mk 16:9–15
After Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary of Magdala from whom he had driven out seven demons. She went and reported the news to his followers, who were now mourning and weeping. But when they heard that he lived and had been seen by her, they would not believe it.
After this he showed himself in another form to two of them, as they were walking into the country. These men too went back and told the others, but they did not believe them.
Later Jesus showed himself to the Eleven while they were at table. He reproached them for their unbelief and stubbornness in refusing to believe those who had seen him after he had risen.
D@iGITAL-EXPERIENCE
(Daily Gospel in
the Assimilated
Life Experience)
After Jesus died, his followers were like fighters laying down their swords in utter surrender after a bitter defeat. None among them even bothered to visit the tomb of Jesus except Mary of Magdala. Considering that at that time women were treated as second-class citizens, we feel for Jesus who got no reciprocal love except from people of low social standing.
Mary of Magdala is also described as the one from whom seven demons were cast out by Jesus. Some readers identify her with the prostitute who spent precious perfume on the feet of Jesus (Luke 7:36-50). But bible scholars believe that the identification has no basis. If so, then Mary of Magdala was not necessarily the worst sinner of her time. This, notwithstanding, she can be cited as a model penitent because the magnitude of her repentance led her to great acts of love. She ministered to Jesus with other women (Mt. 27:55-56), accompanied Jesus in his last journey to Jerusalem, was present at Calvary (John 19:25) and at the entombment of Jesus (Lk. 23:50-56), and checked on Jesus in his tomb on the Sunday following his death (Mk. 16:9-15).
Mary of Magdala may not have actually seen Jesus in the act of coming out from the tomb. But she was the first recorded person to meet the risen Lord. (We have to qualify the statement with the phrase “recorded person to have seen the Lord” because the most logical thing for Jesus to do was to show himself to his mother after rising from the dead). When she announced to the Apostles “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18), she became the first to proclaim the Good News of the resurrection.
To witness the actual resurrection was a gift given to no one. But to be a witness to the message of the resurrection is the duty of every Christian. Let us be valiant witnesses of the resurrection by not laying down our arms in the battle against evil. – (Atty.) Rev. Fr. Dan Domingo P. delos Angeles, Jr., D.M.

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