Yesterday at the Easter Vigil, I preached on the Easter account from the Gospel of Luke. I tried to explain how quickly Mary Magdalene and other women believed in the risen Jesus. I explained also how gradually all the apostles came to believe in the resurrection of Jesus. The apostle Thomas was among the last few of the apostles to believe in the resurrection; he desperately wanted to see and touch the Risen One before believing what had happened.
It was very important for all the disciples to bring all of them to the same level of information and experience and then to proclaim their experience and faith together with conviction; it was actually a difficult task. The proclamation under the leadership of Peter was of great importance in this process. The situation in the Church today seems to be similar; Some react quickly, some slowly, but the Christians form a community in which we all make a pilgrimage together to the heavenly Jerusalem.
Every year on Easter Sunday, we hear from the Gospel of John. In the Easter account of the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is the central character. She appears in the Gospel of John as an important and significant figure.
Therefore, there are theological books about Mary Magdalene that refer to her as the first apostle. In the Gospel of John, Mary Magdalene is the primary witness to the resurrection of Jesus. Peter is also considered as the primary witness, and John is the witness of faith. The apostle Thomas is also a witness who wanted to meet the risen Lord personally. He was allowed to see, hear, and touch the risen Jesus. All of Jesus’ apostles encountered the risen Jesus, as did many other disciples, before they began preaching after receiving the Holy Spirit on the feast of Pentecost.
When we call Mary Magdalene the first apostle and the first proclaimer of Jesus’ resurrection, we should not forget that traditionally she was identified with a prostitute and sinner. She was also called the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet.
Few years back, Pope Francis gave her the title Apostola Apostolorum, namely Apostle of the Apostles, thus elevating her to the status equal to the 12 apostles and establishing her day of remembrance as a feast day. When I speak about Mary Magdalene on Easter Sunday, it doesn’t mean that the resurrection of Jesus is being overlooked. I want to show that Mary Magdalene can be an example for many Christians of how we can follow Jesus despite human weakness, despite the problems and difficulties of everyday life. Mary Magdalene came from difficult, controversial circumstances, but through her love, faithfulness, and companionship to Jesus, she became an important figure in the Easter proclamation. The situation was similar for all of the apostles of Jesus and many of his disciples.
It shows that in religious experience and in our relationship with God, and in the willingness to commit ourselves to Jesus and his message, neither highly intellectual abilities nor social status nor financial and professional qualifications count, but rather faith, love, faithfulness, and hope play the decisive role.
Jesus himself was humble and simple. But God raised him from the dead and exalted him to heaven. This means that whoever is ready to encounter the risen Jesus, or who seeks to experience God and share this experience, will find God appearing to them with love, joy, and hope, just as Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene and elevated her to a significant figure in the history of Christianity.
The resurrection of Jesus and the experience of it among his disciples are a great encouragement for us to reorient our lives with joy and confidence and, if necessary, to dare changes and transformations with courage and hope.
Just as the risen Jesus connects heaven and earth, our relationship with him, our faithfulness to him, and our love for him, will help us connect our present with the future.
The feast of the Resurrection of Jesus which we celebrate every year as a solemn feast of hope and encouragement, can give us courage and strength, just as the experience of the Risen Christ gave hope and courage to Mary Magdalene, and the apostles.
Let us (in these difficult times for the church, society, and politics) walk as Easter-loving people of faith, trusting and courageous.
I wish you a joyful, grace-filled Easter season.
Fr Joseph Pandiappallil MCBS