Mary Magdalene: a symbol of spousal love

The Latin Church made it common to share in the liturgy the three distinct women of which the Gospel speaks; Mary of Bethany also known as the sister of Lazarus, Mary, the sinner (prostitute), and Mary Magdalene or Magdalene of resurrection (Jn 20). The sanctity of Mary Magdalene was venerated by many; the Greek liturgy and Eastern Orthodox traditions portray the figure of Mary Magdalene in depth.  

It was Pope Francis who made this day to be celebrated as a "Feast" on June 3, 2015, when the Congregation for Divine Worship issued a decree. The Pope made this decision “to signify the importance of this woman who showed great love to Christ and was so loved by Christ."

Though today's Gospel and the first reading were written in different times and places, they are closely connected to today’s feast, revealing the love of Mary Magdalene for Jesus. In the Song of Songs, we read that the bride lost her love at midnight, and she searches everywhere; city, streets, and squares. He was not to be found. Finally, she found a watchman to whom she inquired, “Did you find my Lord?" 

I would like to give three understandings for our reflection today:

1. Jesus, the bridegroom: 

Have you read Tom Brown's Da Vinci Code? Or at least did you watch the movie?  According to the book, the bloodline of Jesus and Mary Magdalene extends until now. This controversy was also present in some of the apocryphal books ( like Gospel of Thomas and Story of Magdalene).  We need not enquire about the controversies, but one thing is sure; Jesus allowed her to love him closely and passionately. In John 10, the Lord is allowing her to wipe the feet with the hair. Remember well: No young women can participate in a public Jewish banquet,  and yet she was found there even with unbound hair (prostitute's symbolic act in Jewish parties). In every scene, Mary Magdalene is teaching us to love Jesus with spousal love (like a real bridegroom).

2. Attitude of Searching: 

In the book of Song of Songs, “At midnight, her spouse was missing. She started to search for him at midnight”. In the Gospel of John also, when Mary Magdalene was searching the Lord, it was still dark (Jn 20:1). The Jewish women never appear on the streets alone and it can never happen at midnight. Only prostitutes wander on the streets at midnight. Here she is searching because her heart is seeking him (in pain). She was weeping constantly (the Lord is asking twice why are you weeping?) 

நற்செய்தி நூல்களில் இவர் அழுதுகொண்டிருக்கின்ற இளவலாகவே அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படுகின்றார். அழுது கொண்டே தன் கண்ணீரால் இயேசுவின் காலடிகளைக் கழுவுகின்றாள். கல்லறையின் முன் நின்று கொண்டு அழுகின்றாள். கல்லறைக்கு முதுகைத் திருப்பிக் கொண்டு அழுகின்றாள். 'என்னுடையது கிடைத்துவிட்டது!' என்று எண்ணும்போதும், 'என்னுடையது என்னை விட்டுப் போய்விடுமோ!' என்று எண்ணும்போதும், பெண்கள் அழுதுவிடுகின்றனர்.

Have you noted Mary Magdalene is not searching the body (corpse) of Jesus, but she is searching the Living Lord. She says, "they have taken my Lord (Kirios)". For those who love Jesus passionately, Jesus remains the living Lord. 

3. Stop holding on to me, but go to the Church: The bridegroom says, "Stop holding on to me, ... But go to my brothers" Then we read finally, "Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples. Jesus does not draw all men and women toward him, but directs them to the Church. Jesus is the bridegroom: The Church is the bride. In the Gospel, the wise virgins wait for the bridegroom with burning lamps and the feast that the father throws for the wedding of his son”.