Satide, July 22, 2023
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Mary stay outside the grave dey cry. As she dey cry, she bend look inside the grave and see two angels wey wear white dey sit down there, one for the head side and one for the feet side of where Jesus Bodi bin dey. John 20:11–12
For the early part of Jesus ministry, He drive seven demons comot from Mary of Magdala. Because of this, she become one of Jesus followers wey dey faithful to Him well-well. E fit well be say she dey among His followers wey use their own resources take provide for Jesus and the disciples as dem dey travel. She listen to His teachings, see His miracles, dey there when dem condemn Him, stand for the foot of the Cross with Jesus mama, help prepare His bodi for burial, and na she be the first person wey Scripture record say Jesus appear to after His Resurrection.
The Gospel for today Mass tell the story of how Mary go the grave early Sunday morning to finish to anoint Jesus dead bodi as He lie for the grave. But to her great surprise, the grave dey empty. So she run go tell the Apostles, and this make Mary Magdalene the first of His followers to bear witness to the Resurrection. After she tell the Apostles, she return to the grave with Peter and John; and after Peter and John leave, she remain outside the grave dey cry, as the Gospel passage wey we quote above talk.
Mary tears dey beautiful. Dem show the deep devotion wey she get for her Lord. She never understand say He don rise, but her faithfulness to Jesus bear witness to her love. Jesus don restore her dignity. He free her from the seven demons wey bin dey torment her. E fit well be say she bin be sinful woman before, but now, na only the Savior of the World she devote herself to.
The witness of Mary of Magdala na one wey suppose inspire all of us. Even though na few people seven demons possess, something dey torment all of us for one way or another. All of us dey sin. All of us get weakness. All of us get things for our past wey we regret. And God dey invite all of us to do better. For Mary, to “do better” mean to give her life to Jesus with the highest faithfulness. She no mind whether the authorities see her for the foot of the Cross. If dem go persecute her because of that, e no matter to her. She remain faithful. She no mind whether the soldiers go harass her when she go the grave to anoint Jesus bodi—na only that last act of love wey she fit offer Him she dey think about. And when she see Jesus wey don rise and think say na the gardener, she no mind whether He see her with broken heart and tears—she only want see her Lord bodi.
Because of her faithfulness wey no dey shake, Jesus give her gift wey pass wetin person fit imagine. After He rise from the dead, He appear to her and send her to be apostle to the Apostles. He send her make she go tell the Apostles say Jesus don rise and say He dey prepare to go meet His Father for Heaven.
Today, reflect on the holy soul of this woman. She bin be sinner wey repent, turn from sin, and change her whole life. She devote everything to Jesus, and in return, she receive even more. For Heaven, Mary Magdalene go hold on to Jesus forever and adore His Sacred Heart. Make all of us try hard to imitate her as we turn from our own life of sin and become faithful to our Lord without shaking.
My Lord we don rise from death, na Mary of Magdala You first appear to after Your Resurrection. Now You dey invite her make she share for Your glorious life for Heaven. Help me make I learn from her by turning my back on every sin and devoting myself to You with all my heart. Make my faithfulness to You, dear Lord, dey complete and no ever shake, so that one day, I too go share for the glory of Your Resurrection. Jesus, na You I trust.
Sound of Freedom
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Saint of the Day – Saint Mary Magdalene
Article wey fit help you understand who Mary Magdalene be – New Advent
