Today is the feast day for Mary Magdalene. Many myths about Mary have evolved over time, maligning Mary and her call as well as her devotion to Jesus.
Yet Mary Magdalene’s story affirms the voice of women in the church. Remember, it is Mary Magdalene who was the first person called by Jesus to preach the good news.
Mary is also the devoted disciple who sticks with Jesus, who shows up when everyone else finds any number of reasons to be somewhere else. Mary stands up to the evil and violence that was Jesus’ death on the cross. To be like Mary is to stand up to the evil and violence that is in our neighborhoods.
Mary hears her name and recognizes the risen Christ. Jesus called our names in our baptisms and we know the risen Christ, we know Jesus in this bread and this wine, and we know Jesus in our neighbors. Over the noise of evil and violence and political vitriol in our world, we hear Jesus continuing to call our names, calling us to wholeness, to leadership, to discipleship.
This message is excerpted from “Mary’s truth” by Linda Post Bushkofsky from the July 22, 2017, blog of the Women of the ELCA. Today we commemorate Mary Magdalene, apostle.
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