Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
Apostle to the Apostles — First Witness of the Resurrection

First Reading: Song of Songs 3:1-4b
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18
Daily readings: https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072226.cfm

The Song of Songs opens with a woman searching. On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves. I sought him, but I did not find him. I will rise and go about the city, in the streets and crossings. I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought him, but I did not find him. The watchmen found me — have you seen him whom my heart loves? I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. The whole arc of it — the seeking, the not-finding, the darkness, the questions to strangers, and then suddenly, without drama: I found him — is the arc of Mary Magdalene's morning at the tomb.

She came while it was still dark. She saw the stone moved and ran to tell the others. She came back, stayed outside weeping, bent over into the empty tomb. Angels ask her: woman, why are you weeping? She says the same thing twice, to the angels and to the man she thinks is the gardener: they have taken my Lord, and I do not know where they have put him. She is not looking for proof of the resurrection. She is looking for him. She wants to know where he is so she can go there and be with him.

And then he says one word: Mary. That is all. Just her name. And she knows. She turns and says: Rabbouni. Teacher. Jesus elevated Mary Magdalene to Feast — from the Memorial she had been for centuries — because Pope Francis wanted to honor her as the Apostle to the Apostles, the first to hear the resurrection and be sent to announce it. But what makes her great is not the title. It is what she did in the dark, while the other disciples had gone home: she stayed. She kept looking. She would not leave without him.


A few questions to sit with today:

1. Mary did not know what she was looking for — she just knew she wanted to find him. Is there a place in my prayer life where I am still searching in the dark, not yet finding, but willing to keep looking? Am I still showing up?

2. Jesus says her name and she knows him immediately. When was the last time I felt personally known by God — not as a member of a group, but by name? What was that like?

3. Mary's love was not afraid of the dark tomb, the emptiness, or the not-knowing. Where in my life am I avoiding a dark or empty place instead of staying and searching?

4. She was sent to announce what she had seen. Is there something God has shown me — a consolation, an experience of his presence, a moment of grace — that I have been keeping to myself instead of sharing?


One small thing for tomorrow:

Say your own name quietly in prayer tomorrow and let God say it back. You do not have to feel anything. Just offer him the moment: "Here I am. I am the one looking for you." Then listen. Mary heard one word. You may not hear anything — but you will have stayed.


Lord Jesus, Mary would not leave the tomb empty-handed. She stayed in the dark and kept asking strangers if they had seen you. And you said her name, and that was enough. Say my name today. Help me to recognize you when you speak — in the people around me, in the Scripture, in the quiet moment I almost skipped. Give me Mary Magdalene's courage to stay in the hard, uncertain, dark places and not give up looking for you. And when I find you — help me to announce it, the way she did, without needing it to be impressive or tidy. I have seen the Lord. May Mary Magdalene, apostle to the apostles, pray for all of us who are still searching in the dark. Amen.


If you'd like to share: is there a place in your life right now where you are searching and not yet finding — and are you still willing to keep looking?