Mary the Tower.

The Feast of ST. Mary Magdalene, John 20:11-18

John 20:11-18

Today, several traditions, including my own, celebrate the feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. There are many stories about Mary's identity. Some have been led to believe that she was a prostitute (doubtful), that she was a woman cured of demonic possession (possibly), and, if you believe Dan Brown and the Davinci Code, she was Jesus’ wife. The absolute truth of any story is typically wrapped in layers of perspective and obscured by personal motive. Mary’s story is no different. One easy example of this is her name.

Most people believe that “Magdalene” is a signifier of the town in which she lived; however, in Aramaic, magdala means tower or fortress. St. Jerome, a 4th-5th century Doctor of the Church, said that Mary was rightly called ‘Magdalene’, that is, ‘the one of the tower’, because of her singular faith and unwavering courage. This means she wasn’t Mary of Magdala, but Mary the Tower.

I’m partial to this explanation and the idea of Mary the tower as a complement to Peter, the rock. From the church on the rock rises a tower of strength and light. A tower is a strong focal point that can be seen from a great distance on the horizon. It is a witness to the safety found in the encampment below it. For people seeking refuge, Mary the tower is an unwavering testament to faith.

The apostle to the apostles.

The first evangelist.

The first witness to the resurrected Christ.

Last at the cross, first at the tomb.

She was the first one Jesus called by name after his resurrection.

She is no small figure. She is a tower.

Almighty God, whose Son Jesus chose Mary to be the first witness to his resurrection and gave her authority to proclaim it to the apostles, strengthen us to be faithful witnesses to the mystery of the Risen Christ. Grant us the courage to follow him, wherever he leads, with unwaivering faith, certain in his steadfast love for us. In his name we pray. AMEN