Mary of Magdala – who were you? For what purpose were you ‘knit in your mother’s womb’? (Psalm 139) fashioned by God, ‘fearfully and wonderfully made’ – for the world? Why, then? Why, still? For you, we contemplate...and love, ‘for He loved you first’. (John 1) You, graced servant of the Most High God looked into the eyes of our Saviour! Oh, scandalous truth! Oh, wonderful worker in His vineyard, who saw His Holy blood gush from His pierced side. And you were the first to see Him alive, when the stone had rolled away, ‘for death could not hold Him’! (Acts 2:24) Your sins – your fruitful sins – did not grind you into the dirt; turn your soul to loss; scatter your bones into the dust, leaving your spirit, lonely and hopeless – for He! He – saves! And Jesus saved you. What did you read in His eyes; learn from His merciful gaze? Did your tears fall on dry, stony earth? Did your spirit dance to the music of life as you walked through the market place, and bought bread from its Maker? Did frowning faces force judgement on you, creating a wall of defence and a heart full of fear? Oh, lowly, holy sinner, whose Saviour pulled you through and raised you high! From what bad calls in life were you set free? And cleansed from the demons, which had invaded your once-innocent heart? Did He restore your child-like beauty, and call you home? Oh, Blessed Jesus – who heals because He loves! Because He loved you then...and now! ‘No work too hard for Him, in faith receive from Him’ (Be Still – Daniel J. Evans, song). How He loves to quench our thirst and mend the broken! The Son – loving everything which comes from the Father. Mary Magdalene – you knew He could free you and so, heal you - because you knocked and the door was opened; searched and you found; asked and so, you received! Lead us, I pray… Help us, in our scepticism and denial; in our broken world and divided families; in our lost children and damaged bodies; in our hatred and fear. Help us to lay our burdens at the feet of Compassion. Help us to seek His wonderful face and look into His merciful eyes – Which speak of forgiveness and promise us growth and healing! Mary Magdala, were you shocked and confused when Jesus spoke words of freedom - that a ‘man’ could expel the enemies of God, the Almighty One, the First and the Last, the Alpha and Omega? You knew, didn’t you, how deep His Divine love must go – Into the depths of your pain, your disgrace, your fear and your suffering? That He would make straight the crooked path of confusion? For ‘He would not bruise the crushed reed or extinguish the smouldering wick - Until justice was faithfully brought forth’. (Isaiah 42:3) He brought you back to life and offered you water from the Well, under the heat of the burning Son; dry and empty, you were filled to over-flowing! Only Fallen Mankind tries to crush the Tree of Life and extinguish the Light. And you had to look at our rejection of True Love, all the time, bathing in His Mother’s tears. Oh, the scandal of Love who forgives completely; Who renews the wretched and makes them whole! Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for our world and bless its people. Heal our families. Drive out evil. Turn hatred to love and war to peace. Call on Jesus...intercede for us now, as we fail and fall; hurt and sorrow; deny and turn away. Full of pride and self, we rely not on our Loving Creator, but on our struggling selves. The One who can save us in love is blocked out, insulted and denied - But let us seek Him, while we can, for perilous waters are rising and an unknown fear is gripping our frozen hearts. Let us turn to Jesus, Who is the Way, the Truth and the Life...while we can! Thank you. Bless you. Amen. Julie Hughes © July 2019
