The gospel texts of the 21st and 22nd Sunday of the Year (A)
have allowed us to meet with Peter, the apostle.
He is a special character among the group of the Twelve
chosen by Jesus to be his followers and friends.
In the following video, Peter shares what his life has been
with the Master, the Man of Nazareth.
He was one of the Twelve, yes,
he had been following the Man of Nazareth;
but so often he did not understand what he said and did.
Until the end and then… he understood even less…
Three years of his life lost… How could this be?
But he is no longer ‘doubting Thomas’, he assures us.
During his life. she was among his faithful disciples.
She was there when he died.
But now, in tears… she is facing an empty tomb.
On this Easter Tuesday we meet her… and Him:
‘Mary!’ – ‘Rabbuni!’
The scene is well-known, the story it depicts as well, and the woman character in it is no less famous, could we say. So many works of art, works of fiction and of theological reflection are centred on the subject: Mary Magdalene, the women of Magdala.
The gospel text of this Sunday (11th Sunday of the Year, C – Lk.7:36-50) brings again this scene to our minds and hearts. Much has been said and much more could be said about the woman and about her encounter with the Man of Nazareth, that Teacher so different from all others.
For me, the story could be summariz
ed in two verses of the Psalms:
“My sacrifice is this broken spirit, you will not scorn this broken heart.” (Ps.51:17)
“The Lord is near to the broken of heart, he helps those whose spirit is crushed.” (Ps.34:18)
More than the broken jar of her perfume, Mary Magdalene brought to Jesus her broken heart – her sorrow for what she had been and… for what she had not been!
Her crushed spirit was filled with regrets, sincere repentance for what her life had been so far; this is what she brings silently before the Man of God.
Her broken heart shows the scars of what the contempt, the arrogance, the selfishness of people have inflicted on her.
All this added to the bitterness of being conscious of her failings – this is what she can place near the feet that she washes and dries with her hair.
She speaks no word, no confession is heard, no self-accusation or even promise of doing better – all is expressed in her silent offering.
Jesus receives it as it is offered, and he is indeed near the woman with a broken heart.
His nearness makes of him her defender against the silent accusation of the self-righteous Pharisee.
Amazingly, Jesus condemns nobody, not even Simon – he, himself, is the one giving the correct answer which condemns him.
It seems that, like some people still today, he has all the answers but… so little compassion!
And, it seems also that our God is a God of compassion… the very compassion that the Man of Nazareth is showing to the woman at his feet.