Tuesday July 22, 2025

John 20:1-2,11-18

THE FEAST OF ST MARY MAGDALNE

They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them:

I have heard of an extra biblical account of the Story of Our Lord written by Mary of Magdala. I would love to read her gospel. She is certainly a very fascinating and champione of the Apostles. Once when I was in Lebanon a woman of the parish told me that she had a problem with Mary Magdalene. She said “if that woman thinks she will have Our Lord to herself, she is going to have problems with me in heaven.” It is then, as a young priest, that I knew women love differently.

When all others had given up or were afraid to come out of the locked house, Mary went searching for Her beloved Teacher! There was nothing in this world that would separate her from him, not even the Romans. Let us pray for this kind of love, this kind of dedication to ministry.

Fr. Chibundi