Bible
Study: Exodus 16:1-5,9-15. / John 20:1-2,11-18.
Today we
celebrate the life of a Saint whose true identity and personality has been the
subject of much debate among scholars, theologians and even non-Christians. She
has become like the proverbial Elephant being described by four blind-folded men.
From any angle you stand, Mary Magdalene seems to take on a new identity.
For those
who do not believe that Jesus was a celibate, Mary Magdalene takes the position
of a very intimate friend or wife at best. For those campaigning for female
priesthood, Mary Magdalene takes the personality of a Great Apostle, who did
even more than the twelve in publicising the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. For
others, Mary Magdalene was no more than a repentant prostitute who poured
expensive oil on the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. Yet for
others, Mary Magdalene was just one of the women who attended to the needs of
Jesus during his public ministry and from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.
From whichever
angle you choose to stand, one fact we cannot take away is that Mary Magdalene
knew Jesus personally. She was his friend not a client. Her love for Jesus was
real. When the twelve deserted Jesus at his arrest and crucifixion, she was
there with him all the way. She came to the tomb to cry and when she recognised
Jesus, she used a personal name for Jesus “Rabonni!” Only a friend would call
you by a name other than the one given to you by your parents.
God has
always desired that we should be his friends not his clients. But painfully, we
tend to prefer to remain clients, we are always very official – concerned more
about what we stand to gain from God than our relationship with Him. We are
very much like the Israelites who quickly forgot how God freed them from
Pharaoh and soon started grumbling for food.
The difference
between clients and friends is this: Clients can never be satisfied, when they
pray, they are always grumbling and complaining! But no so with friends, prayer
is actually worship. God is always happy to hear the voice of his friends when
they pray because he knows they are not there to complain. So now comes the
question for today: Am I a friend like Mary Magdalene or just a client like the
Israelites?
Let us
pray: Lord Jesus, open my heart to love you more as a friend than anything
else. Amen.
Good
morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God
bless you.
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