The other Mary

Jeremiah 2:1-3,7-8,12-13; Psalm 36 With you is the fountain of life, O Lord; JOhn 20:1-2,11-18

We are all aware of the importance of the Blessed Virgin Mary, mother of Jesus. How she was sinless and free from concupiscence throughout her life, never losing her integrity as one who was filled with grace from the moment of her conception.


She is the Lady of ladies. The one who perfectly cooperated with the work of redemption in bringing forth the Incarnate Word himself, JEsus born into the world from her womb to the manger, to the cross, opening heaven for all.


Mary Magdalene, whose feast we celebrate today, could easily be described as the one who started differently, way different.

She is the one who is described as having seven demons cast from her. Only God knows the dark past she lived up until that point. But somehow in the midst of her sinfulness and her life removed from grace, she discovers redemption in Christ. HEr past does not determine her future.

She is restored, renewed, by the encounter she has with Christ. Grace is omnipotent. She goes from having a dark nasty past that would make most blush in shame and horror to the one who is given the privilege of being the first witness of the resurrection as we read in the gospel of John.

God never quit on her and more importantly she never quite on God.

In Mary the mother of God we encounter perfection and the beauty of Grace. In Mary Magdalene we see the power of grace pull humanity from its sin and introduce a new life, a new beginning, a new start.

Both Mary's are important. The Blessed Virgin Mary's 'yes' to God makes it possible for the Other Mary to say 'yes' to the invitation Christ offers to all, "bE healed, rise, pick up your mat and walk", and finally "Go to my brothers and tell them, 'I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God."

MAry went to announce the resurrection. For she who had been raised her self from the depth of sin and despair had no problem announcing the good news of the one who was raised from death to new life.

Her life was already a witness to the power of the resurrection.

A bit of a poem that makes me think of St. Mary Magdalene

A Desposition by Anne Porter

"And She was strong
Her faith was silent, Sure and Passionate

She'd gladly walk ten miles in any weather
for a taste of God..."