Irreplaceable Image of the Divine

I’ve never really felt a closeness with St Mary Magdalene, until recently. I didn’t have anything against her, I just never really understood her. More recently the Lord has been showing me glimmers of Mary Magdalene that have taught me so much about discipleship, femininity, and the woman as an irreplaceable reflection of one of the many facets of God’s image and likeness.

The obvious thing we know about Mary Magdalene is that she was saved by Jesus. Before she met Jesus she was living a life turned away from the Lord. Then upon meeting Jesus she was set free and she chose to follow him as his disciple. In her meeting Jesus, Mary received a free gift from God, which gave her a new understanding that all she has is free gift from God. She did nothing to earn it or to merit it. God moved first in her life and of this she is certain.

Our culture tells us that women must move first if they are to be found worthy. They must be independent and aggressive; women should not rely on anyone else to get what they want, they should get all things done themselves. As a disciple of Jesus, this goes against the core of our relationship with Christ. We are but dust. It is the Lord who turns toward us first, any good we do is always a response to His grace. Our worthiness is not earned, but is freely given. We merely choose to live the life of grace that has already been given to us, but this means dependence on the Lord. It means submitting our lives to God so that he can care for us. It means admitting that we cannot do it on our own.

The other thing that is clear about Mary Magdalene is that she puts Jesus first. Her gratitude to Jesus for saving her is a never ending wellspring that springs forth from within her heart. The grace of knowing we are unconditionally loved moves us to return that love, thus Mary devoted her life to ministering to Jesus and to his disciples along the way. Women have a profound uniqueness that allows them to connect very deeply with others. This nature of women, when used in service to the Lord, is what unites people, especially in times of trouble. Women have a unique ability to see the source of disunity, which typically breaks their heart and moves them to bring about union and restoration. What makes this possible is that the woman’s heart is a treasure in which others can discover an endless array of mercy and love.

This is the great potential of women that the enemy is trying to deny and distort. The world tells women that their worthiness is found in their being physically fit, beautiful, and being involved in so many things that they never truly have time for deep connection with any one person, including their own family. What is different about Mary Magdalene is that she put the Lord first in her life, she had no other gods. Mary Magdalene knew her identity in God and that was enough. She was alive and free because she was completely detached from the world. Mary didn’t need social status or to be seen by the world as someone important or special. She knew she was special because Jesus saw her as such.

We can also learn much from Mary Magdalene’s hidden life of prayer and attending to the daily needs of the disciples. In this she reminds us that the women’s role of nurturing and caring for the physical needs of others is imperative. It was important for Jesus to have women disciples who ministered to the needs of Himself and the Apostles. This role was not and should not be looked upon as lesser to any degree. Mothers and women in general have a vital role to play in the building up of the Kingdom of God. This role is unique to women and is incredibly necessary. To encourage, to lift up in prayer, to nurture, to comfort, to assist to the needs of others, to work for peace and justice, to simply be in the presence of someone who is hurting. These are the irreplaceable reflections of God that the woman reveals to the world. Without this, the world would crumble. The backbone of humanity rests in the hidden treasure of the feminine.

Additionally, the woman carries within her body a most holy dwelling place where new life is created and nurtured. The womb is where God and man come together. Each and every eternal soul is given to the flesh of a person in the womb of a woman. This is truly an amazing gift that God has give to women. She bears in her body a place of unity, a place where God truly enters in and gives eternal life, a place of new beginnings. We don’t need to look far to see that the world’s perception of the woman’s womb has been severely distorted. This most holy dwelling place of new life has been commodified, invaded, rejected and scorned. Although Mary Magdalene was not an actual mother, we see clearly how she stepped into her God given role of motherhood as she cared for and served Jesus and the Apostles. Mary shows us that the woman’s role of caring for and ministering to others is an irreplaceable gift from God.

Quite possibly, one of the most important things we can learn from Mary Magdalene is that her faith and love for Jesus was most often demonstrated in her simple presence to the Lord. Mary is mentioned in scripture as being present in certain places, but she doesn’t usually get mentioned in the stories themselves. Most importantly she was at the foot of the cross and she was at the tomb on Easter morning. Her presence at the foot of the cross demonstrates that she was willing to follow Jesus even when it was hard, even when it put herself in danger, even when it seemed that all hope was lost. We then see her go to the tomb first thing in the morning, immediately after the Sabbath rest. Mary’s devotion to the Lord was richly rewarded as the Risen Christ appears to her in such an intimate way at the empty tomb. As Mary tried to cling to the lifeless physical body of Jesus, she was made to understand through the appearance of the Risen Christ, that Jesus would be present to her in a new way now. Time and time again, her simple presence meant great consolation from the Lord.

In our culture today women are told that in order to be something you have to take what is not yours, you have to be something other than yourself. The role of women in the world is a profound instrument of peace and fruitfulness. Where women are acting in the wholeness of their femininity, you will find peace and fruitfulness. Where women are trying to take on the role of men, you will find disunity and discord. Mary Magdalene is a witness to all women that when we are present to the Lord, we will find our true identity, and where we seek authentic connection with others, we will bring about healing and restoration.

People are right when they say the world needs women, but I dare to say they have it wrong in how they think women should and can best effect the world. The women’s role is most powerful and effective as a hidden treasure. What the woman brings to the world is a different perspective, a love of humanity, a peace that the world cannot give, an unbounded hope, and a reflection of the Divine that is irreplaceable. If women abandon their role, then a portion of God’s own image will be lost among humanity. So instead of running away from who we are, women should enter more fully into it. We must abound in what is good and holy in both body and soul. We must allow the hidden treasure of our hearts to be discovered and delighted in, instead of forced upon others. May all women seek the intercession of Mary Magdalene and our Blessed Mother Mary to teach us how to be who God created us to be, a holy dwelling place and an irreplaceable reflection of the image of God.

2 comments