Mary Magdalene Homily 

given by Barbara Jennings

Who would you name as the great women in these scripture readings? 

Who would you name as a great woman in history/herstory?    

The midwives Shiprah and Puah……Phoebe, Prisca and Aquila, Junia, Julia, the un-named mother of Rufus…..  

What about Wangari Maathai?    Sharin Ibadi of Iran?    

Meiraid Corrigan?   Jody Williams?                 Joan Chittister?      Dorothy Day?    

What do these women have in common?

 
I suggest the following:   

Life-giving.   They recognize Death and hopeless all around them BUT …They each prefer to ACT and give life according to their circumstances….hiding a child from death, birthing a new belief, planting trees, defending other women in court, ….. 

Nonviolent….even under death threats at times.   

Suffering.... Make no mistake about it, All of these women have suffered …..loneliness, isolation, criticism,  

persistent……passionate…….proud of their passion and being women….. 
 
 

I give you Mary Magdalene, just such a woman……life-giving, nonviolent, all-suffering, persistent, passionate, proud. 

Mary gives us hope.   All of these women give us hope.   

These days we often focus on the hopeless……the place of women in the church becoming more powerless rather than powerful. THE rise of clerical privilege.

    Mary faced it. 

the invasion of iraq     the proliferation of violence.    Mary faced it ….and stayed.    

suffering …… Blessed are those who mourn…..suffering for our passion…criticism, rejection, misunderstanding? If we aren’t suffering these, perhaps you and I need to ask Mary Magdalene to help us to run and to act as she did.   

Pick your passion and beg Mary Magdalene to help you endure. Beg Mary M. to help you be apostle, to be midwife. 

Our true hope is in community with one another…..women must end our jealousy and suspicion of one another………..support one another!             Mary had community of women and perhaps men who stayed with her and encouraged her.      

Mary Magdalene ……Shiprah and Puah, Phoebe, Junia and Julia….. .Wangarii Matthai, Joan Chittister, Meiread Corrigan, Dorothy Day….Sharin Ibadi……Jody Williams……..give us hope.     

Help us to let you give us hope.