Apostle to the Apostles
From time to time, the Gospels will list the names of women who supported and followed our Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry (e.g. Luke 8:2-3, Luke 24:10, Mark 15:40). If you take the time to read these lists, you’ll notice that there is one name that is almost always listed first: St. Mary Magdalene. Indeed, other than our Lord’s own Blessed Mother, there is probably no woman who receives more attention in the Gospels than Mary of Magdala.
Likely a native of Magdala, a small fishing town on the Sea of Galilee, Mary Magdalene first appears in the scriptural record in Luke 8, where St. Luke tells us that she had been freed from the oppression of seven demons. She then went on to follow Jesus, providing for his needs with her own resources together with various other women.
Her devotion to our Lord led her to follow him all the way to his crucifixion, which she is said to have witnessed (Matthew 27:55-56). Following him even beyond his death, she is recorded as witnessing his burial, “sitting opposite the tomb” as St. Joseph of Arimathea had our Lord’s body placed in his fresh-cut burial place (Matthew 27:61).
On the following Sunday morning, Mary came to the tomb with some of Jesus’ other female followers to anoint his body properly (Luke 24:1-12), yet she did not find his body there. Instead, St. John recounts the story of Mary Magdalene being the first person to see the resurrected Lord (John 20:11-18). After realizing that the Lord was no longer among the dead, she was sent by him to his disciples to tell them what she had seen. For this, the Church since the Middle Ages has sometimes given her the title “Apostle to the Apostles.”
A Brief History
Because of her presence in the biblical text, the commemoration of St. Mary Magdalene dates back to the earliest days of the Church.
Furthermore, since she walked with our Lord Jesus during his earthly ministry and is so prominent in the Gospel narratives, the Church has tended to celebrate her annual commemoration with special solemnity. For example, the Lutheran Service Book lists her day not as a commemoration but as a feast, making her the only woman other than the Virgin Mary to be celebrated with a feast day.
Throughout the Church’s history, Mary Magdalene’s story has often been conflated with Mary of Bethany—the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:38-42). Likewise, she has also been confused with the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet and washed them with her hair (Luke 7:36-50). While Mary Magdalene is certainly different from the woman or women depicted in these accounts, this connection has been made since the earliest centuries after the Magdalene’s life and is reflected in the historic Gospel lesson for the day.
Collect
Almighty God, Thy Son, Jesus Christ, restored Mary Magdalene to health and called her to be the first witness of His resurrection: heal us, we beseech Thee, from all our infirmities, and call us to know Thee in the power of Thy Son’s unending life; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost: ever one God, world without end. Amen.
Lessons
First Lesson
Gospel
Resources
Issues, Etc. interview with Rebekah Curtis on St. Mary Magdalene
Propers found in Daily Divine Service Book: A Lutheran Daily Missal, edited by the Rev. Heath Curtis
References:
1. Cowie, L. W., and John Selwyn Gummer. The Christian Calendar. G & C Merriam Company. 1974.
2. Parsch, Pius. The Church’s Year of Grace: June, July, August. The Liturgical Press. 1963.
3. Pfatteicher, Philip H. Festivals and Commemorations: Handbook to the Calendar in Lutheran Book of Worship. Augsburg Publishing House. 1980.
Images:
1. Christ Appearing to Mary Magdalene, Albrecht Dürer, 1511, Germany.
2. Christ’s Appearance to Mary Magdalene after the Resurrection, Alexander Andreyevich Ivanov, 1835, Russia.
3. The Penitent Magdalene, Titian, 1550, Italy.
