Practical Recognition (Magdalene Continued)

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Armodoxy for Today: Practical Recognition (Magdalene continued)

Facial recognition has become a popular means by which you can access your electronics. Modern technology allows inanimate objects to recognize you with a remarkable degree of accuracy.

Yesterday we read from the Gospel of John chapter 20 the moment at which Mary Magdalene met with Jesus following His Resurrection. Mary did not recognize Jesus, until Jesus first recognized her and called her, by name. Let us continue from where we left off. Verse 17 reads,

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.

Mary Magdalene is often referred to as the “Apostle to the Apostles” because of this passage. The word apostle means one who is sent. It is the same in the Armenian language, Arakyal. Mary was sent by Jesus to share the Good News with the rest of the disciples, His “brothers.”

Through the centuries, Mary has attracted the attention of many artists, who have been intrigued by her closeness to the Lord. They have depicted her in different forms whether in paintings, songs or written word. This points to one of our greatest shortcomings as human beings. We’re consumed by the mundane rather than the spectacular.

Of the few important facts that we do know, the most important might be considered that Mary Magdalene’s love for the Lord was so great that she did not abandon Him during His suffering; She was at the foot of the cross. And in return, Jesus revealed Himself to her and asked her to be the Apostle to the Apostles: the first Apostle who spread the word of the Risen Lord.

Here is a prayer offered to the Saint:

O lamp of the world and gleaming pearl, who by announcing Christ’s resurrection merited to become the “Apostle of the Apostles,” Mary Magdalen, be ever our loving advocate with God who has chosen you.

Cover photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian

Recognition – Magdalene

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Armodoxy for Today: Recognition

Following the Resurrection of our Lord, a group of women went to the Grave to anoint Jesus’ Body. Among them was Mary Magdalene, a disciple of Jesus.

We read in the Gospel of John:

Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Mary did not recognize Jesus, until Jesus first recognized her and called her, by name. As we reflect upon the Resurrection, we are reminded that the characters around Jesus were people with daily cares, who found themselves in the greatest story ever told. Reflect on your identity and those who you may or may not recognize and those who call you out by name. How does that affect your life? It certainly did for Mary Magdalene as we will come to find out.

A Prayer to St Mary Magdalene

O Glorious St. Magdalene, “model of penitents,” obtain for me the grace of perseverance in the practices of self-denial according to the Spirit of my vows; pray to God for me that I may appear before Jesus Our Lord and Master, at the moment of my death, with my lamp filled with the oil of faith and hope, and burning with the pure flame of charity; and thus merit to be received with thee into His eternal Kingdom. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian, 2023

Heaviness Explored

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Armodoxy for Today: Heaviness Explored

On Holy Friday, you meditated on the cross, that is, suffering for a greater purpose. You looked at the crosses in your life along side the Cross of Christ. You heard Christ’s challenging invitation,  “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.” (Luke 9:23)

The Cross on Friday is quite different from the Cross on Sunday. For one thing, there is no body on the cross. He who was Crucified has come out victorious over the Cross. For another, the Cross has proven not to be an end in itself, but rather, a path to the greater good, and the Victory.

The invite we have received from Jesus has always been after the Resurrection. The only Cross we have known is the conquered Cross. Feel the weight of the crosses in your life today. If they feel lighter and manageable, you have found the balance of Armodoxy.

O Christ, protect and guard me under the shadow of your Holy Cross in peace. Deliver me from enemies visible and invisible. I will glorify you along with the Father and Holy Spirit. Amen.

Cover Photo: Luna & Gregory Beylerian, 2023

Overheard Last Week

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Armodoxy for Today: Overheard last week

Mark 16:

And Jesus cried out with a loud voice and breathed His last.

Then the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. So when the centurion, who stood opposite Him, saw that He cried out like this and breathed His last, he said, “Truly this Man was the Son of God!”

This centurion, who was a commander in the Roman army, makes a proclamation about Jesus based on the sensational events surrounding the last minutes in our Lord’s life on earth.

At some point in your life, you arrive at a conclusion about Jesus. This day after Easter, after you have heard so much about Jesus and the Resurrection, is a day of contemplation and reflection, to arrive at your own proclamation about Jesus.