She Who Loved Much: The Transformation of Saint Mary Magdalene

Rosemary Bogdan ponders how God’s love and mercy transformed the sinner Mary Magdalene into a great saint. 

Happy Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, the Apostle to the Apostles. 

There is much debate about which of the many Marys mentioned in the Bible is Mary Magdalene. Different scholars have different opinions. Was she a prostitute? Was she the same woman as Mary of Bethany? Was she the woman caught in adultery whose life Jesus saved? The truth is that we really don’t know with certainty. 

We do know that Jesus cast seven demons out of her and that she was considered to be living an immoral life. She was probably also wealthy since she was one of the women of Jerusalem who supported Jesus’ ministry. (Luke 8:2) 

For the purposes of this article, rightly or wrongly, I will assume that Saint Mary Magdalene is both the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11) and the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears. (Luke 7:37-39) 

A profound experience of mercy

The scribes and Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery and asked if Jesus agreed with Moses’ command that she be stoned. Imagine the woman's humiliation, probably only surpassed by her terror at the knowledge that she was about to be stoned to death.  

Jesus bent down and began to write on the ground with his finger. But when they continued asking him, he straightened up and said to them, “Let the one among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he bent down and wrote on the ground. And in response they went away one by one, beginning with the elders. So he was left alone with the woman before him. Then Jesus straightened up and said to her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"

She replied, “No one, sir.”  

Then Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you. Go and from now on do not sin any more.” (John 8:3-11) 

How Mary’s heart must have been pounding. What was about to happen? Was He writing the sins of the scribes and Pharisees on the ground? Why did He not condemn her? He knew the law.  

Mary had had a profound experience of God’s love and mercy. He knew her sufferings. He knew her brokenness. And yet he had defended her without words.  

Mary later bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair, kissed them, and anointed them with ointment from an alabaster jar. (Luke 7:37-39) When questioned by the Pharisee about why he would let a sinner do this, Jesus replied,

“So I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” (Luke 7:47) 

God forgives us when our own efforts fall short

Might those of us who have been forgiven much take some encouragement from Mary’s example? Mothers can be very aware of their failings as they realize their own sins and inadequacies will always cause their efforts to fall short.  

Mary Magdalene had been living an immoral life. Her sins were many and yet she was forgiven. Perhaps it is in receiving God’s love and mercy that our hearts are softened, that our capacity for love expands. God pours out His love. We receive it and then we are able to pour it back to Him and to others 

God is so good. As He forgives us, He heals us and we are made whole again. 

A saint who loved much

Mary Magdalene was the Apostle to the Apostles. She stayed with Jesus as He died on the cross. She was the first to proclaim the Good News to the Apostles. She loved much, and Jesus entrusted her with much.  

She who had committed grievous sins had become a favored follower. She, a woman with a sinful past, was the first to hear her name called by the Risen Christ. 

We are all sinners, but our identity does not consist of our sins. Rather it is a function of our willingness to receive all that the Lord offers us. Our part is to acknowledge our brokenness and to surrender to all the Lord wants for us. God is transforming us every time we turn to Him. He only awaits our glance in His direction, our plea, and our permission to come and do His work on us and in us. 

Saint Mary Magdalene, please intercede for us on this your feast day. May we imitate your example and receive the fullness of God’s mercy. Then, just as you did, may we love Him well in return. 

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Copyright 2024 Rosemary Bogdan
Images: Giovanni Domenico Tiepolo, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons; Santi Giovanni e Paolo, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons