WHOM ARE  YOU  LOOKING FOR?

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily for this feast of St. Mary Magdalene is, “Whom Are You Looking For?”

That’s a question in today’s gospel  from John 20: 1-2, 11-18 -  where Jesus says to a woman – whose name is Mary Magdalene, “Whom are you looking for?”

THE LITERATURE ON MARY MAGDALENE

The literature and history on Mary Magdalene is fascinating.

Dan Brown in The Da Vinci Code – Nikos Kazantzakis in The Last Temptation of Christ – and others make her the lover of Jesus – or maybe even his wife.

In the middle ages houses for prostitutes were called Magdalen Houses.

In recent times there have been movies and books about the Magdalen Sisters – who cared for young women – especially those who had babies outside of marriage.

Scripture scholars state that there is no evidence to picture Mary Magdalene in novels and works of art as she has been pictured down through the years.

Scripture scholars also point out there is no evidence that Mary Magdalen was the woman who was a sinner in Luke 7. She’s the gal who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. Perhaps  it’s because Mary in today’s gospel is also weeping. Perhaps too it’s because the woman in Luke 7 anointed Jesus’ feet with an alabaster flask of anointment. This was something people did when someone died. And here in today’s gospel Mary is there at Jesus’ burial place.

In Luke 8 we hear for the first time about Mary Magdalene – with the comment “from whom seven demons had gone out.”

From what I read that is the key text. Then  writers like St. Ephraim jumped on the idea – and the connection that Jesus came to be with, eat with, associate with, sinners.

I’ve noticed that the last few popes before Francis have rehabilitated her – giving her better press than earlier popes – especially like Pope Gregory the First who in 591 connected her with the sinful woman in the city of Nain in Luke 7. 

The title of my homily is, “Whom Are You Looking For?”

I would think preachers and writers are looking for sinners in the scriptures – because they know they are sinners themselves – as well as the people in front of them – sinners who are rescued and redeemed and restored and re-edited by Jesus.

Mary Magdalene seems to fit that description well.

I assume that’s what made St. Peter and St. Paul and St. Augustine so very popular – because we are all sinners.

I assume that is why the Our Father and the Hail Mary are so popular. We pray: “forgive us our trespasses” and “pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death, Amen.”

LOOKING AT MARY MAGDALENE

Yes we are sinners, but I think Mary Magdalene should also be looked at for two other reasons.

Mary Magdalene is also called the “Apostle of the Apostles.”

Translation: she brings people to Christ.

Today’s gospel begins with Mary Magdalen - on the first day of the week - going to the tomb early that morning, “while it was still dark”  and finds the stone rolled back. She then runs to Peter and the other apostle and tells them that the tomb is empty. Today’s gospel, because it’s the feast of St. Mary Magdalene – who is being featured – leaves out verses 3-10. That’s  the scene we hear at Easter about Peter and the Beloved Disciple running to the tomb. Peter doesn’t get it yet – but the Beloved Disciple does. “He saw and believed.”

They leave. It’s then we have the great story about Mary Magdalene being the first to experience the Risen Christ. She’s the one who is asked the question, “Whom are you looking for?”

Notice there is no mention that Jesus first appeared to Mary his Mother. It’s to  Mary Magdalene.

Preachers have said, “Of course, he first went to his mother.” 

We don’t know that, but we do know this scene here with Mary Magdalene is loaded with possibilities for deepening our life with Christ.

CONCLUSION

I see Mary Magdalene modeling two things. They can be described in the old catechetical model called: “Discover and Share.”

First step: Discover….  I think a key message is that Mary Magdalene models for all of us to become searchers for Jesus. The title of my homily for today is, “Whom Are You Looking For?”   So here we are early in the morning – like Mary Magdalene - at this morning Mass each day – looking for Jesus

Second step: Share. The second step is to share. This is the call to be the apostle – to bring, to share Christ with others. Have you noticed folks after Mass coming up here to the tabernacle to get the Eucharist to bring Christ to homes. That’s a model for all of us – to bring Christ to homes, to work, to the places and people we meet today – mostly by example and kindness.

Mary Magdalene is called, “The Apostle to the Apostles.” 

Featuring the first apostle – to be a woman – is not to be P.C. Correct. This this title was given Mary Magdalene for centuries in Eastern Rite Churches – many of which are nowhere near the Roman Rite of the Church – when it comes to how women are treated and recognized. In my opinion – we’ve moved a bit for the better in the Western Church - but we’ve got a long way to go – as we move into the future.