BELOVED DISCIPLE OF JESUS ANOINTS HIS FEET WITH PERFUMED OIL
As we approach July 22, Feast Day of Saint Mary Magdalen, my thoughts and emotions turn to many topics. One is faith and discipleship, believing (faith), and following Christ (bearing witness). My other thoughts are about my Mother who died on this feast day more than two decades ago. My Mom believed and bore witness to Christ in everything she did. There was no doubt that God was the most important thing in her life and the driving force behind her words and actions. I gained a lot of comfort by my Mom being called to her heavenly home on the feast day of another woman, Mary Magdelen, first to see the risen Lord and witness His victory over death for us all.
There are millions and millions of saints in heaven not named by the Church. Perhaps there are some in your family. Everyone who goes to heaven is a saint. My mom was a very ordinary woman, mother, and wife and will never receive any public recognition by the Church but like millions and millions of us who persevere and remain faithful to the Good News of Jesus, she is now enjoying the full rewards of the Beatific Vision in heaven.
My Mom would get up an hour before morning Mass (6:00 am) and say prayers in living room for a good half hour before waking me and dragging me to early morning Mass each morning. We went to the Sacrament of Confession weekly. I attended with my Mom and Dad Mother of Perpetual devotions, then hurried home to watch Bishop Fulton Sheen on TV. At Christmas time, we made visits to every church possible with a nativity set. Mom and Dad began a family rosary and invited neighbors to join us. My Mom taught by example what it meant to be grateful to God and love him in our neighbor. She was there for anyone in need. The house was always filled with collections for rummage sales for St. Vincent De Paul Society.
Later in life, my Mother was caregiver in our home to her Mother and my Dad who were both bedridden with serious illnesses until they passed away, After I married, my Mom went into the convent as a Visitation sister and served that vocation for 25 years. And then when it was time for her to come home to her heavenly home, God called her on the feast of St. Mary Magdalen. A stamp of approval if I ever saw one, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter into the joy of thy lord.”
FEAST OF ST. MARY MAGDALEN JULY 22 RAISED TO DIGNITY OF FEAST
In 2016 Pope Francis raised the memorial of St. Mary Magdalen to a liturgical feast to the dignity of a liturgical Feast, recognizing the importance of her role as the “apostle to the apostles.” In the modern Church calendar, saints may be commemorated with a memorial (optional or obligatory), feast, or solemnity. By making the commemoration of Mary Magdalen a feast, she was elevated to the same grade as that of the male apostles.
In the 21st century, the Church is called to reflect in a more profound way on the dignity of Woman in the Church and on promoting a New Evangelization. Mary Magdalen is the model for both. It is right that the Church raises her status to full Feast equal to the male Apostles. This saintly woman known in Scripture as the one who loved Christ and was greatly loved by Christ is rightly promoted to the faithful as a model of women’s role in the Church.
Women, like the male laity have been commissioned by Christ at their baptisms to be priests, prophets and kings. Priests, in the sense of offering all we do, our works, joys, and sorrows for the kingdom. Prophets, in the sense of preaching the Good News and giving witness to our faith, and Kings, good stewards here on earth in service to Christ the King in Heaven.
MARY MAGDALEN MODEL OF FAITHFUL DISCIPLESHIP
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,”*which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.. Mary of Magdala went and announced to the apostles, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her. John 20: 15-18
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father”
“Saint Mary Magdalene is an example of true and authentic evangelization; she is an evangelist who announces the joyful central message of Easter,”
In the 6th Century, Saint Pope Gregory the Great identified St. Mary Magdalen as the woman who anointed Christ’s feet with perfume in the home of Simon the Pharisee.
“Then he turned to the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? When I entered your house, you did not give me water for my feet, but she has bathed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but she has not ceased kissing my feet since the time I entered. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she anointed my feet with ointment. So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence, she has shown great love.*But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” The others at table said to themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” But he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace!” Luke 7:44-50
Jesus does not acknowledge his critics but the repentant woman and praises her for her great love and faith and sends her on her way sanctified and redeemed. From that moment Mary Magdalen became a faithful disciple and witness. “Afterward he journeyed from one town and village to another, preaching and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. Accompanying him were the Twelve and some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities, Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Luke 8:1-2
Mary Magdalen followed Him to Calvary, “There were many women there, looking on from a distance, who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering to him. Among them were Mary Magdalene and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee”.
Mary Magdalen followed to the tomb and saw where He was buried, came on Sunday to anoint Him and was rewarded with His appearance and commission to go evangelize and spread the Good News. He is Risen!
Our first parents, Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden spread death where there was life. Mary Magdalen in the garden of the Resurrection announced life from the Holy Sepulchre, a place of death.
CONCLUSION
There is an important lesson taught to us in Jesus’ words to Mary, “Do not cling to me,” John 20:17. Jesus invites us along with Mary Magdalen to enter into the experience of faith which goes beyond the material and that which can be discovered by our “senses.” Remember Jesus’ words to Thomas after the resurrection behind closed doors, “Blessed are those who have not seen and believe.”
Women in the church have a lot of issues. It is right that the liturgical celebration of this woman should have the same rank of Feast as that given to the celebration of the male Apostles in the General Roman Calendar. The special mission of this woman should be underlined. St. Mary Magdalen is an example and model for all women in the Church.
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