St Mary Magdalene
"Jn 20:1-2,11-18"
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... she turned round and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek?"
St Mary Magdalene is an important saint. Pope Francis has raised her memorial to the dignity of a liturgical Feast, like one more Apostle. We know a few things about her. St Luke records that she was a notorious sinner but she came to weep at His feet. And that was the turning point of her life, because Jesus brought her innocence back to her when He said, "her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much." Throughout history, great sinners have become great saints. Not because their sins were unimportant, but because they "loved much."
Be certain of this: your sins are not a hindrance to your holiness. They weren't to St Peter, St Paul, St Matthew, St Augustine, St Dimas (the 'Good' thief), St Thomas Becket… and so many thousands of saints. Sins are not a hindrance but an opportunity for holiness. No matter how many or how awful our sins are, nor how rotten and putrid our miseries, once they are forgiven in the Sacrament of Confession, they become a first class manure for the tree of sanctity. With the water of our love and the rays of God's grace, the tree of our sanctity will grow and give much fruit.
How much Mary loved her Master! She wept out of repentance at His feet one day. She wept again at the entrance of the tomb, looking for Jesus even after His death. A week before that day she was pouring her best perfume on the tired feet of Jesus. And when most of His disciples abandoned Him on Good Friday, she was next to Our Lady at the feet of Jesus once more, now nailed to the Cross. God could easily forgive those sins because He could easily feel her deep love.
Mary, Mother of Mercy, may I always come back to your Son. May I learn from Mary to repent and to love; may I be able to hear Jesus' voice one day saying that my sins have been forgiven... 'because I've loved much.'
