Wednesday July 22nd: Go to my brothers

St Mary Magdalene

Today, the homeless, migrants, divorced and despairing, the vulnerable are calling our names.

John 20:1-2,11-18

I have had the privilege of helping my spouse facilitate a retreat reflecting on this great woman of the New Testament, Mary Magdalene, the Apostle of the Apostles, yes, a woman. The passage takes us through Mary’s journey from despair and sorrow through Recognition, Encounter, Transformation and Mission.

From the moment of our baptism, we, missionary disciples, are called to fulfil our baptismal dignity through faith formation (prayer, study, fellowship, breaking of bread) from childhood, teenage and young adult years to adulthood. Mary’s journey to all the disciples of Jesus is important. It is not linear but cyclical and all our lives we are called to move through encounter, recognition, deep encounter, transformation, and mission, repeatedly.

We, as Mary, often don’t recognise Jesus in our first encounter, but when he calls us by name, we recognise and encounter him deeply as “Rabbouni!” Teacher. This deep encounter leads us to Mission. Today, the homeless, migrants, divorced and despairing, the vulnerable are calling our names. We must remain open to respond to “go to my brothers and say to them…. I have seen the Lord.”