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Connections&
April 15, 2001--Easter Sunday
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning and saw the stone removed from the tomb." John 20:1-9
The apostle to the apostles
The first time she saw him she was madly shouting gibberish, her body contorting wildly. She remembers that he said something--she had no idea what. But she immediately calmed down, her body relaxed. He drove seven demons from her, they said. She didn't know what that meant. All she knew was that she experienced a peace from this itinerant rabbi that she had never known; she was whole and focused and no longer isolated (although "respectable people" would never have anything to do with this madwoman, this prostitute, this sinner).
In the stories the "Teacher" told, she discovered a God who loved her as she was . In his presence, she felt she counted for something. She found joy and meaning in her life by doing whatever she could for him and for others in their company.
When they hanged him that Friday, it all but destroyed her. She could not understand why they would want to kill him. Despite the horror and the danger, she could not leave the site of his execution (but not one seemed to bother with her - after all, she was just a crazy woman). Despite her grief, her hurt, her despair, she could not bring herself to let go. She had no other place to go that morning than to the tomb--and just cry and grieve.
Then, in the dim light of that Sunday morning, her hope and joy were restored. One more time, he healed her of her pain, he lifted her from her heartache, he asked one more thing of her; Tell the others.
CONNECTIONS: There is an admirable stubbornness about Mary of Magdala. She refuses to surrender the sense of love and compassion Jesus has brought forth from within her. And this morning, God says to her--and to us: You don't have to. It's yours to keep and cherish all of your days. In the resurrection of his Son, the Father vindicates what Jesus died for: the Gospel of justice, compassion and reconciliation. The despicable attempt to quash his vision of peace and love is foiled forever. The empty tomb is the first bud of God's new spring of rebirth and recreation. And Mary of Magdala, the faithful madwoman, is the Risen One's first herald. That alone should give the rest of us reason to hope and rejoice--and tell the others.
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