4-7-23 - Mary of Magdala

This week we will look at the gospel reading appointed for each day and reflect from the perspective of one the people on the fringes of the story. We too are on the fringes of this story – and we are invited to come into its heart this week. May these holy men and women draw us closer. Today's gospel passage is John 19:16-30
You can listen to this reflection here.

Mary of Magdala: My name is Mary. I come from Magdala. I’m one of those women, one of those who followed Jesus from Galilee and helped take care of him and the disciples.

This man, this man they killed today? This man healed me. He set me free from the worst kind of bondage you can imagine. He cast out seven demons from me, who tortured me constantly. I didn’t think I’d ever get free of those voices, the incessant chatter inside, telling me to hurt myself, telling me how worthless I was, how I’d be better off dead. He gave me back my life.

After that he was my life. I would have followed him anywhere. He was my Lord. Following him and tending to his needs and those of his disciples – what else could I do? He set me free, and all I wanted to use my freedom for was to serve him.

That’s how it was for all of us – this motley collection of people who had been set free – from demons, from sin and degradation, some from blindness, crippling diseases; some from despair and loneliness and meaningless lives; some from greed and lust. Just a bunch of people who love him because of what he did for us. Selfish kind of love, when you think about it. But it was real, it was real when you were with him. He made it real. He made us all able to love in a way we didn’t naturally know.

And now he's gone. How can that be?

So... now we have to bury him. I hear some guy from the Sanhedrin has given us a tomb to use until we can bury him properly. It’s too late now to anoint him before the Sabbath begins. We’ll have to do it first thing Sunday morning…

I’d better find the others and find out where they’re taking him. Oh, my sweet Lord. My sweetest friend. What have they done to you? What have we done to you?

As you move through this Good Friday, whenever or wherever you will worship, take some time to ponder what Jesus has done for you - what you feel personally he has given you. Reflect on that. Reflect on how worthy you are to receive his gift, not because of anything you've done or will do, but simply because God says so. And then pass it on.

If you would like to join me for the Liturgy for Good Friday online tonight, join here on Zoom at 7 pm, or live on Facebook, here. If you would like to move through an interactive Stations of the Cross, you can find that here.

To receive Water Daily by email each morning, subscribe here. Today’s readings are here. Water Daily is also a podcast – subscribe to it here on Apple, Spotify or your favorite podcast platform.