Weakest
By LAW nobody would believe anything that Mary Magdalene said. Culturally – and also possibly due to her past sinfulness – this woman would have been one of the least reliable witnesses to such a miracle.
I have been reflecting on Mary Magdalene from the Gospels. She was the first witness to see the Risen Christ.
This is an important point if one understands Jewish Law. You see, women were not acceptable witnesses. For something to be witnessed, the testimony of two men was required. And this is significant. You see, God rose from the dead. He literally got His own dead body and brought it back to life by His own power. He then oved aside the boulder blocking the tomb and stood waiting for the witness to the greatest miracle of all time.
That is the power of God.
Understanding that power, does it then make sense for the God who could control even His own dead body to be unable to call the appropriate witnesses to this miracle? After all, by LAW nobody would believe anything that Mary Magdalene said. Culturally – and also possibly due to her past sinfulness – this woman would have been one of the least reliable witnesses to such a miracle.
When she returned to the apostles, did they think she was crazy? Did they wonder why one such as she should see such a thing? And yet, even when this weak woman went to them, two ran out – Saint Simon Peter and Saint Joh t he Beloved. One who deserted Christ in His time of need and the other who stayed with Him and inherited for the whole world the Mother of Christ…
I have been reflecting on that. You see, God never makes mistakes. Sometimes He chooses for us to do something that may be difficult for us, but He chooses for us to do that because it suits His plan.
Perhaps the choice to first publicly proclaim Himself to one of the weakest sources was not to in any way diminish the person who received the sign, but rather to elevate them? Perhaps by showing Himself FIRST publicly to Mary Magdalene Christ was able to show that those who are least among us are precious to Him? Perhaps this woman was to represent what all the rest of us should be – weak and humble and deeply in love with God?
Perhaps it was her simplicity that called to the apostles to go out and see Him – giving witness to the Risen Christ – officially this time? And yet, in all the Gospel accounts, the woman – the witness whose testimony is legally worthless – is the documented first witness to the Risen Lord. Perhaps this is God’s way of changing things up? Perhaps this is God’s way of showing us how much He values every one of us – from the least among us? Perhaps this is God’s way of showing us that He loves us? Perhaps He is speaking to me personally? Perhaps He wants me to know the extent of His love for me?
After all, He is a God who showed the greatest miracle of the world to the weakest soul, and He made sure that remained documented. Because He loves us – all of us – even me!
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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