St. Mary Magdalene

Today the Church remembers Mary Magdalene, and we hear how she was the first to see the Risen Christ:

 

Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, `I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (Jn. 20:11-18).

 

Mary Magdalene is known as the “Apostle to the Apostles” because she carried the good news of Jesus’ resurrection.  We do not know that much about her. We know that she was the first witness to the resurrection. Luke 8 refers to Mary, called Magdalene, as one of several women who travelled with Jesus and the disciples in Galilee. What we do know is that her life was transformed; she turned around 180 degrees and left her old ways and followed Jesus.

 

Let us pray:  Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 

THE KIDS ARE HAVING FUN AT THE SUMMER ART CAMP. 

 

Your servant in Christ,

 

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church

Galveston, Texas 77550