22 July 2020 – Feast of St Mary Magdalene

I will rise and go through the City;
in the streets and in the squares
I will seek him whom my heart loves.

…

The watchmen came upon me
on their rounds in the CIty:
“Have you seen him whom my heart loves?”
Scarcely had I passed them 
when I found him whom my heart loves.
                      From Song of Songs 3: 1-4

Although the Song of Songs was written as many as nine hundred years before Mary and Jesus were born, the emotions it expresses fit perfectly with those of Mary Magdalene as she stood by the empty tomb.

We do not know what the demons were that had held her bound – or even what that phrase really means. What we do know is that this liberation gave her the courage to stand in stoic faithfulness at the foot of the cross when virtually all the other disciples had fled. It enabled her to go to a tomb to anoint the decomposing body of someone who had died three days before. It left her unable to leave the tomb – wondering where the one whom she loved could have been taken. The reward for her faith – her hope – and, above all, her love was to be the first to encouter the Risen Lord – he whom she loved above all others. And upon her was the task laid – to be the apostle to the apostles – the first person in history to proclaim the words we hear at Easter: The Lord is risen – he is risen indeed.

• • When have you missed someone whom you love?
  • What does Mary’s yearning tell us about her relationship with the Lord – and his with her?

Spend a few minutes trying to imagine the longing and yearning of the young lover in the Song of Songs – whose beloved was alive – and that of Mary whose beloved was – she thought – dead. Allow yourself then to imagine the joy – of the expected encounter in the Song of Songs – and the completely unexpected one that was to change the world.
Pray for those who are deeply missing loved ones and yearning for reunion.