FRIDAY, July 22 Saint Mary Magdalene

John 20:11-18. Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.”

Early in his ministry Jesus had cast out Mary Magdalene’s demons, and she had become a supporter. She traveled with Jesus, the twelve disciples, and other women as they proclaimed “the good news of the kingdom of God” and provided for the ministry out of their resources. The church once taught that she had been a prostitute, perhaps because the church feared strong women, but there is no scriptural evidence of that as her profession.

Mary Magdalene is a helpful model. Grateful for her healing and citizenship in the kingdom of God, she followed Jesus and shared her resources. Faithful to the end, she met the risen Lord and proclaimed the good news.

Almighty God, whose blessed Son restored Mary Magdalene to health of body and of mind, and called her to be a witness of his resurrection: Mercifully grant that by your grace we may be healed from all our infirmities and know you in the power of his unending life; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

—Holy Women, Holy Men, page 481

PRAY for the Diocese of Polynesia (New Zealand)

Ps 42:1-7; Judith 9:1, 11-14; 2 Corinthians 5:14-18

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Mary Magdalene

Jul 22, 2011 at 11:25 am

Written by Terry Jones,

Wondering if you've read Cynthia Bourgeault's latest book on Mary Magdalene?

...

Jul 22, 2011 at 1:37 pm

Written by Noel the author,

Thanks for the recommendation. What do you like about it?

So, what if she was a prostiture?

Jul 22, 2011 at 2:52 pm

Written by Joanne Mershon,

I don't get why it is such a big deal whether or not she was a prostitute. Why is it that nobody brings up the sexual victimization of women and children when assesing the character of men? It is like the worse thing imaginable if Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, in a time when women had so few options for survival and they were all dependent on serving and placating men in some way. Nobody ever brings up whether a man was nice to his wife or took care of his mother, but Jesus would bring up these issues. If Mary Magdalene was a prostitute, she was probably placed in the position of having to sell herself in order to survive in a misogynistic socioeconomic system, and in that case she's not the guilty one. In that case having to be a prostitute in an indictment of men abusing their power over people who are powerless. I think Jesus dealt with that issue as best he could when he told the men who were going to stone a woman to check their own guilt or innocence before throwing rocks.

-1

...

Jul 22, 2011 at 4:05 pm

Written by Steve Doutt,

I've always wondered what Jesus wrote with his finger, in the dirt, while he was advocating for Mary Magdalene.

...

Jul 22, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Written by Noel of July Day by Day,

I don't think there is any evidence in the Bible that she was a prostitute.

...

Jul 23, 2011 at 7:59 am

Written by Terry Jones,

@Noel - I'd like input from an ordained person as to the content of the Rev. Bourgeault's book. And I think I clicked the wrong button here -- so sorry. I agree there seems no evidence Mary Magdalene was a prostitute.

...

Jul 23, 2011 at 3:04 pm

Written by Rick,

Be thankful for those who see the Lord and then witness to their vision.

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