Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

Today's Mass Readings

Jesus drove seven demons out of St. Mary Magdalene, and she became a follower of Jesus. Tradition refers to Mary Magdalene as the “Apostle to the Apostles,” precisely for the scene recounted in the Gospel reading. She encountered Jesus at the tomb, and He commissioned her to announce to the disciples the Resurrection of Jesus.

Mary Magdalene’s story speaks of the hope of conversion. It is so often that a parent or grandparent will ask me to pray for one of their children or grandchildren who no longer attends Church or has lost his or her Christian faith entirely. It is often with a heavy heart and great sadness that they express these words to me. It can lead to discouragement and a lack of hope.

But, again and again, we see that our God is the Good Shepherd seeking out the lost sheep, God brings light to those who dwell in darkness, and God raises up the lowly while humbling the proud. God enters into our sufferings and afflictions and instills us with hope. Hope is the theological virtue we desire and expect from God both eternal life and the grace we need to attain it. Mary Magdalene knew what it was to be lost, to be tormented, and probably to be forgotten and disregarded by most of society. Yet Christ saw in her heart a deep capacity for love—a love that looked upon the Cross as her Lord was crucified, and a love that stayed at the tomb weeping, inconsolable because she did not know where they had taken Jesus.

Jesus Christ is the One for whom our hearts long. And, we pray that all who are seeking happiness elsewhere may discover that only in God will we find the truth and happiness that we never stop searching for.

Reflection by Fr. Paul Sheller, OSB