Tag Archive for: Mary Magdalene

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