Mary Magdalen was a woman who longed for love and acceptance, searching for a place to belong. Luke says that she was cured of seven demons (Luke 8:2), so it was likely that she was not accepted by the society of her time. And having seven demons, she probably didn’t have too many healthy normal friendships with people.

Dear Friends of the Word,

Mary Magdalen was a woman who longed for love and acceptance, searching for a place to belong. Luke says that she was cured of seven demons (Luke 8:2), so it was likely that she was not accepted by the society of her time. And having seven demons, she probably didn’t have too many healthy normal friendships with people.

Then she met Jesus, who set her free from a cycle of self destructive and empty relationships. Under His loving gaze she didn’t feel worthless or dirty, he did not judge her. Just by being close to Him and being open to His message, she felt more and more the happiness she had been looking and longing for. He saw the hunger for Love and Compassion in her eyes, and welcomed her completely and unconditionally. Through Jesus she began to understand that happiness didn’t come from being loved by others; but through being able to first love yourself for who you are. But all too soon, Jesus, who had showed her a new brighter future, was killed. Could this new life of the pure and honest love of God already be over? Was it just a dream, false hope for a life that couldn’t be?

With despair in her heart, she went to see the dead body of Jesus. She wanted to mourn – to be close to Him just one more time. She wanted to touch and understand. Suddenly, she heard Jesus call her name. Mary heard him say: “Don't hold on to me! I have not yet gone to the Father“. And she starts to understand one of the most important lessons in life: When we leave something behind, we become open, free and ready for the new things God wants to give us. We must learn to let go, before we can receive the gifts of the Father. Eventually, at the end of our lives we have to leave everything behind anyway, to be totally free for the Father.

Dear friends, it is very difficult for us to “leave” and “let go”; of our old habits and destructive patterns. Deep down we are all scared of change, of leaving ourselves open or vulnerable. There is comfort in our routines and patterns. Yet we need to be truly open and trusting of God, because only God knows our path. If we don’t make ourselves free and available to answer Gods call, then how will we ever be able to hear it.

Mary Magdalen invites us to trust Jesus and not to hold on to things and possessions. She encourages us to let go of our old ways, and to take a chance by putting our trust in God – to take a small leap of faith in order to gain the ultimate reward.

For the onWordTeam

Meinolf Wacker

(adapted by Sandhurst Youth Ministry)