Rachel Bulman – Word on Fire Blog –
Pope Francis elevated her celebration to a feast on June 3, 2016, which was also the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, Susanna, and many others who provided for them out of their resources.
(Luke. 8:1-3).
These three verses from Luke are often overlooked, but should not be. The first thing to note is that women were a part of Jesus’ inner circle. This was quite radical for the time, as early rabbinic documents cautioned against speaking to women at all. (Think of the reaction in John 4:27 when the disciples returned to find Jesus speaking with the Samaritan woman at the well.) Not only were women a significant part of the ministry, but they sustained and cared for the disciples. Some translations say that they ministered to them.
Her posture toward Christ is always the same: seeking him, loving him, and finding him, for he is always near to her, as he is near to you, and to me. It is in this humble posture that the Magdalene is able to see with her eyes and heart what many failed to see: that there is only need of one thing, and that one thing is a life that is fully centered in Jesus Christ.
In many ways, she is the blueprint for the making of great evangelizers, for an evangelist must live in such a way that the Gospel is preached no matter the cost. Living a life of complete self-donation and of total Christ-centeredness will cost us all that the world has to offer, but will inevitably lead us over and over again to the same garden of the Resurrection.
Saint Mary Magdalene, pray for us!