Duc in Altum: Magdala, Walk Where Jesus Taught. “Put out into the Deep.” Yesterday’s homily by Fr. John Cordero at Holy Family Artesia occupied my mind for a long time: “Greek tragedies make us weep. Tears of Good Friday are meant to wash away burdens if we spend time focusing on things that burden us. Instead, allow ourselves to see, provided our hearts and minds are open to God’s grace and presence. We are hopeful that the night will move to day. The rain cloud does not remain. Clouds will roll by. Darkness will fade. Quarantine will end. Pandemics will cease. We are not like Mary Magdalene who is blind to the obvious beauty before her, the resurrected Jesus Christ.”

The last line bothered me – was Mary Magdalene blind or was she blinded by her grief due to her deep love for Jesus? To Fr. John’s credit, he speculated that Mary Magdalene might have been that, blinded by grief and love for Jesus. Though he speculated, he also negatively referred to her as blind, since Jesus advised her not to cling to Him as he has not ascended to His Father yet. 

It made me wonder – why is she not revered for her deep love for Jesus? That she was a “transmitter of faith, the first to inform the disciples, the herald of good news of Resurrection, a pillar of humanizing values with her feminine dignity.” 

Why was she referred to in this homily as blind, a condition of not seeing permanently, when she was temporarily blinded by her grief in seeing the sufferings and death of Jesus on the cross? 

Of course, there is also the past of Mary Magdalene, “whom Jesus delivered from seven demons. She is one of several women who provided support for Jesus and the disciples. She was also present at his crucifixion, and testified to His Resurrection.” (John 20:1)

Today’s #earthangel is dear friend Carl Andrada who sent three masks, including one for my 5yo granddaughter. Thank you for your love and kindness – may God’s grace be bestowed on you!