RBWords

    The simple line quoted from today's gospel scripture is the reason why St. Mary Magdalen is considered an important patroness for the Dominican Order.  She is the first preacher to proclaim the resurrection of the Lord!  Jesus himself tells her to do this!  Of course, this comes about after some rather exciting drama, which is rather drastically edited by the Lectionary today.  Notice that a whole chunk has been omitted between vv. 2 and 11.  The ever-dramatic Gospel of John creates the scene of Mary's first discovery of the empty tomb.  She runs and proclaims this to "Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved" : "They have taken the Lord from hte tomb, and we don't know where they put him."  Thus the familiar dramatic pattern of misunderstanding leading to understanding [faith] is set up.  The omitted part concerns Peter and the Beloved Disciple running to the tomb and what they do when they get there.  Nobody sees anyone else at this point.  The disciples go away but Mary stays put with her weeping.  This sets the scene for her encounter first with two angels and then with the "gardener."  Of course, the "gardener" turns out to be Jesus himself but it takes his voice speaking her name to create the dramatic recognition!  This leads to her commission to go to the apostles to proclaim that Christ is risen.  This is why she has the title, "Apostle to the Apostles!"

     Mary Magdalen is a preacher twice over in this account.  Her first effort is accurate but imperfect.  Like the disciples, she still has to learn about the resurrection.  There were many who doubted the story and claimed Jesus' body was stolen.  It took her personal encounter with the Risen Lord to convince her.  We know that the disciples were still incredulous.  Jesus' appearances to them gradually bring them to faith.  Mary's role was to get it all started.  We Dominicans venerate her and pray that more women will be called to proclaim the Good News!   AMEN