Mercy Running (an army of Magdalenes)
Day 23 of our 40 Days of Mercy Fast
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Mercy Running (an army of Magdalenes)
‘I found my destiny at the moment when my soul lost itself in You, the only object of my love.’ (57)
Why was Mary Magdalene the first disciple Jesus entrusted with His Resurrection? According to John’s Gospel, Peter and John raced to the empty tomb but could not comprehend Christ Resurrected.
Jesus entrusted this sight to Mary Magdalene. After Peter and John had left the tomb, having sifted through evidence of the Resurrection without sight, Mary lingered at the tomb, weeping.
These tears were familiar. Many believe that Mary was the prostitute in Luke 7 who washed Jesus’ feet with tears, in gratitude for His Mercy, while the Pharisee looked on aghast. She had been forgiven of much and so she loved Him much (v.47). Perhaps she wept after He cast out seven demons from her (Lk. 8:2) or after she witnessed His Almighty Mercy restore hundreds of lives while travelling with him. Certainly these were the tears she shed as she watched Him suffer and die on the Cross. (Jn. 19:25)
She was a woman uniquely attuned to Christ. Her gender and her brokenness forged a dependency upon Him qualitatively different from the male disciples. While ‘customers’ had shamed and fractured her, Jesus’ nearness set her free. Her wholeness was bound up in His life, her holiness a result of their intimacy.
Jesus entrusted her with His Resurrection. Clarity of sight corresponds with purity of heart (Matt. 6:22, 23). Her heart sought only His. So He, the Resurrected Christ chose to appear to her first, for her eyes alone.
He entrusted an ex-prostitute with the most pivotal event in human history.
On the eve of another Living Waters training, many ex-prostitutes will gather to help ensure their churches are safe and powerful places for the broken. Having washed Jesus’ feet with their tears, they are now intent on washing others.
Like Mary, they will run back to their homes, with pure hearts and clear eyes: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ (Jn 20: 18) God is raising up an army of Magdalenes. To these He can entrust the Mercy that makes all things new.
‘From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; from the one entrusted with much, much more will be asked.’ (Lk. 12:48)
‘Jesus, You pour out abundant Mercies upon those in need, surpassing the depth of sin with the power of Your love. We trust in You, the Mercy that makes all things new. Set us free in the spirit of Mary Magdalene to make known Your glorious Life. Free us from sin’s winter and free us for the season of singing. Make us bold and joyful stewards of the Mercy that sets captives free.’
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Author’s note – Each day’s entry is based a passage from St Faustina’s diary. The passage entry is the number in parentheses at the end of each opening quote or simply a page number in parenthesis. Diary of St Maria Faustina Kowalska – Divine Mercy in My Soul (Association of Marion Helpers, Stockbridge, MA 01263) is available through the publisher or Amazon.com.
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