To Fight, To Finish, To Keep

By Steve Hall

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072223.cfm
Song of Songs 3:1-4
John 20::1-2, 18-20

Mary of Magdala, a town in Galilee. Today known as Mary Magdalen. Today is her feast.

While Jesus expelled seven demons from her, she should not be confused with the penitent woman in Luke 7:36-50. Rather, she was among a group of women who ministered to Jesus and his disciples. In the gospels, after her own healing, we hear of her at the foot of the cross, at the tomb (either alone or with others) and as one who personally witnessed her resurrected Lord. In all probability she was a woman of independent financial means. She has been ‘well known’ by the faithful throughout the centuries, yet she is hardly known at all.

She was not the wife of Jesus as per Dan Brown. Nor is there evidence she traveled to France.

Nevertheless, her presence at the crucifixion, the burial and the post Resurrection put her in a group that I have always found fascinating. She was among those who persisted to the end; and what little is said of her in Scripture always calls to mind the words of Paul to Timothy: “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” (2 Timothy 4:7)

Mary Magdalen, the Twelve Apostles, Paul, Luke, Dorcas, Timothy and so many others—then—down through the centuries—now. Their faith was tenacious, you might even say obsessive. Consequently, it’s natural to turn one’s attention to similar phenomenon in today’s world. Whether rock-star groupies or political partisan zealots or a multitude of other narrowly focused addicts, we find our world filled with those who seem to search for their personal salvation in a variety of human persons or human constructs and artifacts. 

The faith that would draw one into the midst of the enemy so that it was possible to stand at the foot of the cross is different, radically different. While a person might get excited about the latest country star or totally blown away by the Beatles or enamored of Brad Pitt or enraptured of the social philosophy of today’s guru or radicalized by the dangers of the current social problem—while any of these are possible, none even remotely enter the realm of the followers of Jesus. Not a St Stephen who died by stoning—not a St Francis who totally surrendered his wealth—not an Ignatius Loyola who radically changed the direction of his life—not a St Mother Theresa who lived with the poorest of the poor—none of these could possibly be said to fall into the same category as the partisan zealots we see today.

They became what they were because of a person. A person with whom they fell in love. A person who became the center of their being. Again I recall the words of Paul:

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” One day I hope and expect to claim Paul’s statement as my own. So, like the woman in the Song of Songs, I seek him whom my heart loves.

“I [have] sought him [says the woman of the Song] but I did not find him.
I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will see
Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find him.”

There is so much more to know that my search can hardly be surprising. I am confident that one day I will know beyond knowing that I have found the completeness of “him whom my heart loves.”