Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
Dear St. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna, and the other women who accompanied Jesus as he journeyed from one town and village to another (as we read about in today’s gospel from Luke),
What was it like to be so close to Jesus? To walk with him, talk with him, eat, pray and laugh with him? How did he treat you? We read he had already shown you so much respect and love and compassion to have cured you of evil spirits and infirmities. Mary, you in particular, having been cured of seven demons.
How long did each of you suffer before encountering Jesus? I can imagine wanting to follow him who gave you back your life. I can understand wanting to support Jesus and his ministry when he renewed your hope, inspired you to live again.
Then, later, some of you witnessed Jesus’ horrible death on the cross. Still you continued to love him; didn’t abandon him. And, Mary Magdalene you were graced with being the first to encounter the resurrected Jesus, the Christ. You even became the one given the honor to announce Jesus’ resurrection to the others, including the chosen named male apostles. You became the Apostle to the Apostles! Lifted up from your lowly, cursed, marginalized status to proclaim the Good News - Hallelujah!
Thank you, dear St. Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Susanna and the other unnamed women for being open and responding to Jesus’ call. For accompanying him and never abandoning him. For being a witness and example for us women and men here and now, using our brokenness, our gifts and our resources to accompany Jesus in the lives of the marginalized in our midst today. Amen.
~Eileen Miller