Yesterday, July 22, was the feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene. Since yesterday was Sunday, we did not mention her because every Sunday is a Feast of our Lord Jesus Christ and nothing trumps a Sunday in the church Calendar. But we can move her day to Monday for discussion and celebration.
Mary is an important figure in Church history because Mary stuck with Jesus not only through his crucifixion, but she also came to the tomb as soon as it was legal to do so. She was there on Easter Sunday, but the tomb was already empty. John's gospel tells us:
"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?'
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbouni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her . . . 'go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'; and she told them that he had said these things to her." (John 20:11-18)
Today we thank God for Mary Magdalene, who was the "apostle to the apostles."
In peace,
Linda+
Mary is an important figure in Church history because Mary stuck with Jesus not only through his crucifixion, but she also came to the tomb as soon as it was legal to do so. She was there on Easter Sunday, but the tomb was already empty. John's gospel tells us:
"But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' She said to them, 'They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.' When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?'
Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, 'Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, 'Mary!' She turned and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbouni!' (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her . . . 'go to my brothers and say to them, 'I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord'; and she told them that he had said these things to her." (John 20:11-18)
Today we thank God for Mary Magdalene, who was the "apostle to the apostles."
In peace,
Linda+
The Rev. Linda McCloud
Founding Pastor
The Episcopal Church of Our Savior at Honey Creek
No comments:
Post a Comment