Today, the church remembers Mary Magdalene in the gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke. Mary Magdalene is described as one of the women from Galilee, who gave financial and domestic support to Jesus and his disciples. She is also described as having been present at Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. However, it is in John’s gospel that Mary Magdalene is given pride of place as the first witness of the resurrection and of the risen Christ himself.
Down the centuries, a considerable mythology has grown up around the persona of Mary Magdalene, much of it negative. In fact, the gospels give little evidence of her character. It is only in Luke’s gospel that we read seven demons had gone out of her, and it is generally assumed that it was Jesus who had exorcised her. This reference is followed immediately by the account of Jesus’ feet being anointed by a sinful woman at the house of Simon the Pharisee. Rightly or wrongly, it has been assumed by many, that the sinful woman was Mary Magdalene.
So why does the church remember this little-known character from the gospel narrative? The answer, I believe, lies in today’s reading.
It was Mary Magdalene, not one of the twelve, who found the empty tomb, and first encountered the risen Christ.
It was also to Mary Magdalene that something new was revealed. In the midst of the tears and the joy that must have overwhelmed Mary, Jesus gave her news of a new relationship between God himself and the whole of humanity.
Jesus said, Go to my brothers. Previously, they had been his disciples, servants, or friends.
Jesus said, I am ascending to my Father, and your Father; my God, and your God. Previously Jesus had spoken of the Father, or the Father who sent me, or my Father.
To this faithful penitent, the risen Christ revealed, in just a few words, tucked into the shadow of the most amazing moment in human history, an invitation to us all, an invitation to become his brother or sister, a child of the same heavenly Father, the Father who is also the one true God.
I hope and pray that you are rushing to accept that invitation right now.