Encountering God and World in Scriptures

Reading
“Now after He had risen early on the first day of the  week, He first appeared to Mary Magdalene, from whom He had cast out seven demons” (Mark 16:9).

Reflection 
Mary of Magdala was a leading figure among  those attracted to Jesus. Magdala is a village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. When the apostles abandoned Jesus at the hour of mortal danger, Mary of Magdala was one of the women who stayed with Him, even to the Crucifixion. She was present at the tomb, the first person to whom Jesus appeared after His resurrection and the first to preach the “Good News” of resurrection.  Mary Magdalene who was depicted as a repentant prostitute is almost untrue. There are several Marys in the gospels: Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and Mary the wife of Clopas. Equally important, there are three unnamed women who are expressly identified as sexual sinners—the woman with a “bad name” who wipes Jesus’ feet with ointment as a signal of repentance, a Samaritan woman whom Jesus meets at a well and an adulteress whom Pharisees haul before Jesus to see if He will condemn her. The multiplicity of the Marys by itself was enough to mix things up—as were the various accounts of anointing, which in one place is the act of a loose-haired prostitute, in another of a modest stranger preparing Jesus for the tomb, and in yet another of a beloved friend named Mary. It is said of Mary Magdalene, that “He had cast out of her seven devils.” Why He appeared to her first, in preference to all other persons? Firstly, Jesus appeared to Mary for display the exceeding riches of His grace. The person chosen to leadership was Peter, who had just before denied his Lord with oaths and curses. In like manner, the person who was commissioned to go unto the Gentiles, was Saul, the persecutor; who was arrested in his murderous career, and made the most honoured, and most useful, of all the Apostles. In the same light we view the grace showered to Mary Magdalene. Secondly, Jesus appeared to Mary for reward her devout character. Very early in the morning, with very great boldness earnestly-weeping with much love she stood at sepulchre. She was anxious to testify her respect in the only way that now remained to her: nor did any considerations of expense, or trouble, or danger, operate for a moment to impede her efforts. For every ordinary women and men such expressions of love could not escape the notice of gracious God. Thirdly, Jesus appeared to Mary to show the mercy to all future penitents to the end of time. The mercy of the Resurrection was even fuller than the mercy of the Cross. The mercy at the Cross was acceptance; the mercy at the Resurrection was not acceptance only, but enlarged grace, heavenly visitations, to be known by name to Jesus. At the Cross Jesus promised that the penitent should be with Him; in the Resurrection Himself come, victorious over hell and death and Satan, to be with the penitent.

Prayer  
Jesus, our Lord and Teacher, you taught us how to  stand at your mercy and how you consider even the evil one. Help us now to grant the mercy on us. Please call all of us for a resurrection experience.

Contemplation  
Jesus Christ was discovered to Mary of Magdala by a word. Her heart owned adherence by seven demons. Christ, in manifesting Himself to those that seek Him, often outdoes their expectations. See how Mary’s heart was in earnest to find Jesus. Christ’s way of making Himself known to His people is by His word; His word applied to their souls, speaking to them in particular.

Action
Practice humility by (i) asking deliverance from evil,  (ii) passionate for Christ, and (iii) expectation of unbelievable.