St. Mary Magdalene

Her face, once painted, is now streaked with tears. Her eyes, once luring sinners, are now red from weeping. Her hair, once braided to entice adulterers, is now a towel to wipe His feet in contrition and humility. She embarks on a new path, the path and life of profound faith, because of His mercy. Out of her have gone seven demons, one for each day of the week, luring her into her sin; Jesus has driven them out by His blessed word of forgiveness. Yet she must now endure affliction, in this new life (the preachers of prosperity are false!). She is scorned, derided. And then, worst of all, she loses her Lord to crucifixion and death. Now her weeping is deepest of all, as she stands in the garden and supposes she is talking to the gardener. Until He speaks: Mary! And the Gardener of her soul lifts her at once from her sorrows into abiding joy. So is the course of Christian life. And even amid our own sorrows and trials He defends us, as He did her, until at last we enter into the joy of resurrection and life. O blessed is the shriven woman, and blessed are we who abide in the same faith as she! Sermon for St. Mary Magdalene's day.