“Now on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, . . . . . . . . . . . . Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!”(Which means Teacher).”
Excerpt, Gospel Reading, Tuesday 22nd July 2025 – JOHN 20:1-2.11-18.
So, Mary of Magdala, whom we acknowledge as Mary Magdalene, is also known said to be an Apostle to the Apostles.
Today as the Church celebrates the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene, we may want to juxtapose her with St Paul, the 13th Apostle to point out some constant occurrence.
When he was still named Saul, he asserted to the stoning to death of St Stephen.
The exhilaration engendered by the killing of Stephen emboldened Saul and his cohorts to start going from one city to another, arresting Christians and slamming them in Jail.
Although, Paul in his opinion, he was supposedly doing what is right according to the teachings of his religion then.
However, no matter the beliefs of any religious body, unjustly taking someone else’s life is unlawful and a sin against God.
So, suffice to say that Saul was a sinner.
Now, about Mary of Magdala.
The Scriptures say of her that it was she whom Christ cast out seven demons from her.
Scriptures also say of her that it was she whom was caught in adultery.
Although, Scriptures never recorded her as a prostitute. Nevertheless, an adulterer can also be likened to a prostitute.
A prostitute in her thinking may feel she is just earning a justifiable livelihood to sustain herself and stay alive.
Nonetheless, fornication is a sin and we all know that. Therefore, Mary of Madala was a sinner.
All of these people were sinners until they encountered Jesus Christ and their lives were changed and never remained the same again.
History have it that Mary Magdalene lived the rest of her life witnessing about heaven. We may want to read up some more about her here – https://www.britannica.com/biography/Saint-Mary-Magdalene
Now, these two people whom we have agreed they were all sinners have some more things in common.
They all encountered Jesus Christ while they were yet sinners.
They all agreed to follow him and do his will.
At the acceptance to follow Christ and do his will, they were commissioned Apostles.
At the moment of their commissioning, Christ called them by their given names. –
Christ said to Saul, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”
To Mary of Magdala, when he called her woman, she assumed he was the gardener.
However, when he was going to commission her, he called her by name, ‘Mary” and she turned and exclaimed, “Rabboni!”
She became an Apostle to the Apostles when Christ sent her to his disciples.
What then is the take from today’s teaching?
If Christ Jesus will take public sinners and work with them the way he did with these two, he will surely do the same with you and I also.
If so, why then are we still refusing to heed his call, to follow him and do his will?
We are destined to be the ‘next big thing’ in this generation, only if like Paul and Mary of Magdala, we answer the call of Jesus Christ and accept to do his will.
My dear friend, (the next big thing), procrastination is the thief of time. The best and most appropriate time is now. Use it well.
Have a fantastic day folks.
#SAINT_MARY_MAGDALENE! #Blessed_Carlo_Acutis! #Pray_for_us!
– Akase F. Agabo
Abuja, Nigeria.
22md July 2025.