Feast of St. Mary Magdalene (July 22)

Evangelist; Equal to the Apostles

From the New Zealand Anglicans:

As is indicated by her name, Mary Magdalene came from the town of Magdala, on the western shore of Lake Galilee. It was a prosperous town, dominated by Gentile interests, and with an unsavoury reputation according to later rabbis.

Mary enters the gospel story as one of a group of women who joined Jesus and his disciples during Jesus’ ministry in Galilee, and who assisted his mission out of their own resources (Luke 8:1-3). This information comes only from Luke, who adds that Jesus had healed some of the women, and in particular had driven seven demons out of Mary Magdalene. There is no way of knowing what exactly was meant by this, though tradition has included plenty of speculation.

Such speculation has been fostered by the reputation of Magdala and the common identification (made “official” by Gregory the Great) of Mary Magdalene with both the sinful woman (usually understood to be a prostitute) in Luke 7:37-50 who anointed the feet of Jesus, and with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha. This accounts for the usual representation of Mary Magdalene in western art as a penitent sinner, or as a contemplative, or both. However, neither identification is at all probable. Luke does not name the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, yet names Mary almost incidentally in a different context soon after; and Bethany is just outside Jerusalem, miles from Magdala in Galilee.

What we do know about Mary Magdalene is that she followed Jesus from Galilee to Jerusalem and contributed financially to Jesus’ cause (Mark 15:4:41; Luke 8:1-3). Mary and some of the other disciples were present at the crucifixion (Mark 15:40; John 19:25), and, after the death of Jesus, took spices to the tomb to anoint his body (Mark 16:1; Luke 23: 55-24:1). Mary and the other women reported the empty tomb to the eleven disciples (Luke 24:1-11), though the report was not believed (Luke 24:11).

In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene has an even more prominent role in the resurrection accounts. She is the one who runs to fetch Peter and another disciple and then meets Jesus outside the empty tomb and mistakes him for the gardener (John 20:1-18). Mary Magdalene becomes the first witness of the resurrection who can say “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18). Mary Magdalene’s involvement with the ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus, on the criteria of Acts 1:21,22, would make her the equal of the apostles.

For Liturgical Use

Mary Magdalene was one of a group of women from Galilee who were healed by Jesus and supported his cause. Mary is named in all the Gospels as being present at the crucifixion and as a prime witness to the resurrection. This is most movingly represented by John where Mary is the first person to witness to the risen Jesus in the words, “I have seen the Lord.” There is no basis for the traditional identification of Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet, nor with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha.

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.

Judith 9:1, 11-14; Psalm 42:1-7; 2 Corinthians 5:14-18; John 20:11-18