Mary Magdalene

Two of the more recent successes in the cyberspace that are considered phenomenal are “myspace” and “facebook.” What common between these two, as well as the many earlier successes, are their capacity to build networks of friends regardless of geographical locations and regardless of the members’ backgrounds. Within these networks, people who may have never seen each other in real life can exchange information, pictures, video clips, discuss different topics, buy, send and receive “virtual” gifts, etc. As far as members, one can find in these networks youngsters sharing stories of their latest crush in school, as well as some doctors sharing pictures they took at their latest vacations. I am not trying to analyze the success of this phenomenon, but would like to suggest that it points to a very deep yearning of every human beings – the yearning to feel connected and belonged.

Why do we get together with friends at a coffee shop, or spend hours on the phone with them, if not for building connections, from which life stories are shared, and from which everyone can be assured that their friends know what is going on in each other’s life. Mary Magdalene came to see Jesus for the first time, she was also in such condition as we are in. She brought her life stories to Jesus, the life stories that almost no one of her time, and maybe even this time, would approve and would want to share. They are the stories of brokenness that are caused by brokenness, they are the stories of sufferings and slavery, they are the dark stories of human beings, and too often they leave deep scars in each and every soul. She brought those stories to Jesus in the hope that Jesus would hear her and know what is going on in her life; and Jesus did not failed her. He understood what she was just another victim of brokenness caused by sin; but not only that, He also knew human souls are capable of reaching out, in their limited way, for God’s mercy through their faith. He then enters the relationship with her and makes up for what is missing. He listens, He understands, He consoles, He forgives, and He defends her. Could you ever ask for a better friend than that? Mary Magdalene was overwhelmed by that loving friendship in Jesus. Such friendship is now the force that sets her out in a new life: free from sin and its slavery. That friendship starts from a very personal encounter, so strong and deep that when the resurrected Christ, as we witness in the Gospel today, calls her by her name, “Mary,” a personal gesture between friends, she immediately recognizes Him.

We were talking a minute ago about the wonderful communication means on the Internet today. They are actually serving their purpose of connecting people, but obviously this connection is not complete, and definitely not perfect. Not too long before their invention, there had been blogs, then xanga. They are like online diaries where you can post not only your writings but also media files. But these inventions were not the first inventions. There had also been emails and Instant Messanger before them. These communication means are constantly changing, one replaces the other for better solutions and better services. But there is still that emptiness and loneliness deep inside regardless of how many hundred friends one may have on the Internet, yet alone in the real world. The friend Jesus that Mary Magdalene found in her life is different. Her friend is so extraordinary that she did not recognize Him at first when He just rose from the death. According to the commentaries in the New American Bible, Jesus was immediately united with the Father since the moment he rose from the dead; the ascension is actually just the termination of his physical presence on earth[1]. Jesus has entered into His full glory at the resurrection. He has washed away all our sins when on the cross blood and water flown from His pierced side. That is the moment that Baptism is established. Jean Daniélou also posits that at Baptism, we are given new life by the Holy Spirit, free of sin and full of grace[2]. The Holy Spirit has enabled us to be God’s adopted children. That is why we can cry out in our prayer, “Abba, Father!” (Rm 8: 15-15). The Paschal Mystery of Christ has restored the sonship that has been lost since the fall of our father Adam. The suffering, death and resurrection of Jesus have started a new life, a life that is filled with God’s life. Mary Magdalene’s friend, who is also our friend, can give us the very life of God.

In this friend, the deepest need to be connected is satisfied. But that is not all of the good news yet. After Jesus rose from the dead, He is able to send the Holy Spirit to His followers, and He did not stop doing it ever since. Every time He appears to the disciples, He breathes on them to send them the Holy Spirit. Now things are even more excited when the Holy Spirit comes, and even Jesus agrees with that. “Amen, Amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these” (John 14:12). That same Spirit who anoints Jesus, and whose power Jesus has used through out his ministry on earth, the Agent of His resurrection, is now personally given to His friends. With this Holy Spirit, the sacrifice of Jesus more than two thousand years again will happen again in a moment at the Eucharistic table. Scott Hahn suggests that these works are what Jesus means when He says “greater works” than his own works[3]. The new life as children of God will begin again every time someone receives Baptism. Sins will be forgiven ever and ever again. Vocations in life, whether marriage vocation or priestly vocation, will be empowered and confirmed again and again. The Holy Spirit will come with all of the true gifts necessary for a life in grace through Confirmation. The life of grace will be made available and easily accessible to all his children in the world. The life determined for us from the beginning, and promised to be fulfilled in the end has been made possible to start right here in this world.

What do we have to do to receive such wonderful gift of new life and the forgiveness of our sins? The answer is we cannot do anything much, really. God alone can save us and give us this new life. The only thing we have is our faith and trust in God. The Church teaches that “sinners are justified by faith in the saving action of God in Christ. By the action of the Holy Spirit in baptism, they are granted the gift of salvation, which lays the basis for the whole Christian life. They place their trust in God’s gracious promise by justifying faith, which includes hope in God and love for him.[4]” The friend of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel today, who is also our friend, is like none other before and after. His saving mission is accomplished through His self sacrifice. He has done something that a Creator could do. He again confirms that He is the Lord of all the universe, the creator of all. The almighty God who has been there before time and who will be forever in His fullness of glory. He is also the personal God who calls Magdalene by her first name, so does He us our first names. What a great deal Mary Magdalene has. The same is true with us. The Lord of the universe and our Creator is our personal friend. We do nothing to deserve such grace; there is not anything we could do that make us worthy of such gift. The only thing we have to do is to open ourselves, totally open, and come to that wonderful friend with an open heart. We come with our faith and trust, regardless of our brokenness and weakness. Just come to Him, and He will do the rest, the rest that is beyond what we can comprehend.

[1] The New American Bible, Wichita, KS: Dvore & Sons, Inc., 1987; and Catholic Bible Publisher, 1970. See commentary on p. 1166.

[2] Jean Daniélou, The Bible and the Liturgy (Notre Dame, IN: Notre Dame University, 1956): 3-17.

[3] Scott W. Hahn, “Temple, Sign and Sacrament: Explorations in John’s Gospel,” Letter & Spirit 4, (2008): 70-91.

[4] “The Lutheran World Federation and the Catholic Church Joint Declaration of the Doctrine of Justification (31 October 1999),” The Christian Faith in the Doctrinal Documents of the Catholic Church, 7th edition, edited by Jacques Dupuis, 844-852, (Bangalore, India: Theological Publications in India, 2001): p 847.