GOSPEL REFLECTION, WEDNESDAY, 16TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, 22 JULY 2026, ST MARY MAGDALENE, DISCIPLE OF THE LORD, FEAST

John 20:1, 11-18.  Mary Magdalene was a faithful follower of the Lord, his disciple.  Her fidelity to him was so strong that she, with Mary Jesus’ mother, John the Evangelist, and it seems a few other women were prime witnesses to the crucifixion.  She had already anointed Jesus with expensive perfume, which the Church has taught since early times, was an anointing for his death.  All of the remaining Twelve had fled for fear at the crucifixion, but she remained faithful near the foot of the cross; Judas Iscariot had already betrayed him and had left their company.  Now, in today’s gospel, she is a first witness of the resurrection.  It was she who, having met the risen Lord standing alive near his grave, who informed the men disciples that she had seen the just seen him.  They then ran to the tomb to see and were witnesses with the Magdalene of the empty tomb.  They would meet the risen Lord only later that day in the room where they were hiding in these dangerous times.

As one of the first witnesses of the resurrection, the culmination of the Paschal Mystery, Mary Magdalene, with all the other witnesses who met the risen Lord, are the main witnesses who contributed to all the memories which became the written gospel on which we rely.  So it is that we owe Mary Magdalene, with Mary Jesus’ mother, and the others, for the knowledge of the Lord that we treasure today.  However, with Mary Magdalene and the others, we must come to know not just things ABOUT what happened, but we must come to meet the risen Lord in person too.  It is that PERSONAL ENCOUNTER  which confirms their early testimony, FOR MEETING THE REALITY OF THE RISEN LORD IS THE CORE OF THEIR FAITH AND OURS.