A Witness and Follower

    Home from Louisville.  Just stepped in the door, made a necessary pit stop, and here I am.  It is good to be back on a regular key board.  My tablet is nice, but my fingers are not as nimble on the small board, thus the errors these past few posts (especially yesterday - my grammer teacher would be ashamed).     Louisville was lovely, but it is good to be home.  More on Louisville later.

    Today is the feast of a great woman of strength, Mary Magdalene.  She is called the "Apostle to the Apostles" because she, who was present at the empty tomb and encountered Jesus, was sent to the apostles (hiding in the Upper Room) with this Good News.  She was a loyal disciple, one touched by the healing power of Christ, who stood faithfully at the foot of the cross with Mary, his mother, and who was the first to witness the risen Christ.

     Pope Benedict said in a 2006 Angelus reflection that "The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth: a disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for help, has been healed by him and has set out following closely after him, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love that is stronger than sin and death."  I borrowed this from Whispers in the Loggia which continues a great reflection of Saint Mary Magdalene.

    Mary is a unique and important character in the story of the Resurrection, chosen by Christ as one of the first witnesses of the event that changed the world.  We too are called to be followers of Christ Jesus and winesses of his death and resurrection.  We need to acknowledge the fact that we have seen the Lord, and we are his witnesses.