Discovering Christ with Mary Magdalene.
Welcome to our retreat reflecting on Mary Magdalene’s encounter with the Risen Christ. You are welcome to use these resources in whichever way is most helpful to you.
The retreat is divided into sections. You can use them over a day, over several days or weeks, by yourself or with others. This section has some useful tools to help you start your retreat. Here are some ideas for creating sacred space and for praying with scripture. They can be used individually or with others.
Opening Prayer
Introduction
So much has been written about Mary Magdalene over the centuries that it’s sometimes easier to say who she wasn’t than who she was. In the first instance the confusion is understandable. So many of the women in the gospel are either unnamed or called Mary, so was easy to conflate or confuse their stories as they got passed down through the centuries.
Added to that there are other stories and legends that told about her through the ages that have no basis in the Gospels, but have become part of our understanding of who she is.
Despite being portrayed through the centuries as the archetypal penitent woman, she’s not the woman taken in adultery. Nor is she the woman who poured oil on the feet of Jesus, anointing him for his burial. There is no evidence to suggest she was of royal descent, married to Jesus and fled to what became France.
The only source we have of her life is what we are told in the Gospels, and that gives us more than enough to work with. As well as her name Gospels tell us that Jesus cast out seven devils from her. Following that became part of a group of women who followed Jesus supporting him and the other disciples from her own resources. All of the Gospels tell us that she stayed with Jesus to the end, through the agony of betrayal and crucifixion, waiting until she saw him laid in the tomb.
Each of the Gospels also place her as one of the first witnesses of the resurrection. In John’s Gospel, which will focus on today, she is the first person to him the risen Christ appears. She becomes the apostle to the apostles, commissioned by Christ to proclaim his resurrection.
Who are you looking for?
Begin by reading John 20: 1-3, 11-18 slowly & reflectively several times. Use the questions below to help you reflect on the passage:
“It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb.” Where does Christ call you to travel through your darknesses to discover his presence with you?
“Woman, ‘why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’” Imagine Jesus putting this question to you today, what is your response?
“Jesus said, “Mary!” She turned round and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbuni!” – which means Master.” What word do you need the risen Christ to speak to your heart to draw you into new life today?
A new Creation
The reflection in this session uses the text below from one of our Eastertide hymns:
“At the tomb she stands in mourning: Where has now our Rabbi gone?” Even as she walked towards the new dawn of Easter Mary carried her grief with her. What burdens do you carry as you seek the presence of the risen Christ in your life?
“Hope and trust and expectation: From it will a vision come.” Though she doesn’t know it the hope of a new creation is already bubbling up as she waits in the shadow of the tomb. Where is hope bubbling up in the hidden places of your life?
“Alleluia, you are God’s new light, Alleluia, Light from light.” How is Christ calling you to carry the light of his resurrection to the people you encounter in daily life?
You may find the video below helpful in your reflection.
A New Creation.
This session is based on the Beatitudes, the essence of what the Church is called to be. I chose them because of a comment by Fr James Martin who wrote:
“In the time between when the Risen Christ appeared to her at the Tomb, and when she announced the news of the Resurrection to the disciples, Mary was, in a sense, the church on earth. For only to her had the Paschal Mystery–the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ–been fully revealed.”…It was to a woman that the Risen Christ first appeared and a woman who was charged by him with announcing the Resurrection to the rest of the disciples. Thus, her justly exalted title: Apostle to the Apostles.” (Fr James Martin, SJ)
It seems fitting that, having that unique experience of being Church and in her role as Apostle to the Apostles, Mary should point us towards the heart of what it means to be Church.
Begin your reflection by reading Matthew 5: 1-12, You can use the passage for Lectio Divina. There are some guidelines for Lectio Divina here:
If you prefer you can use the questions below for your reflection:
“How blessed…” Where are you aware of God’s blessing in your life?
“The kingdom of Heaven is theirs…” How are you called to proclaim the kingdom today?
“Rejoice and be glad…” Where is the risen Christ calling you to rejoice in his presence in your life?
Closing prayer
As you come to the end of your retreat you may want to use prayer to give thanks for all you have discovered.
