Strong Women of the Bible: The Bleeding Woman

Rev. Debbie Cato
Leviticus 15:19-23 and Mark 5:21-43
Manito Presbyterian Spokane
September 27, 2026

Strong Women of the Bible – The Bleeding Woman

 

This is the third sermon on strong women in the Bible that I’ve preached here at Manito.  I think I told you that I decided to choose strong women in the New Testament – strong women that Jesus met through his ministry.  I also decided to look at women that you might not expect to be the focus of a sermon.  You see, there are different ways of being strong.

First I chose the Samaritan woman – known only by her ethnicity.  Often, we look at the Samaritan woman and focus on what we assume to be sin.  She’s been married five times and currently lives with a man she’s not married to.  Surely scandal should be the focus for this woman.  But that’s not the heart of the story.  As I stated in that sermon,  “Jesus interaction with this Samaritan woman at the well is transforming.  She goes from hiding from people because she’s ashamed, to being an evangelizer for Christ.    The community goes from shunning her because of what they had assumed about her, to believing her.”  I think that’s a description of a strong woman.

My second sermon was about Mary Magdalene. Jesus healed Mary’s physical and mental well-being and that transformational healing led to Mary’s unwavering loyalty to Jesus.  Mary was deeply integrated into Jesus’ community of disciples.  She was a leading and devoted follower of Jesus. She stayed with Jesus during his crucifixion and as he hung on the cross.  She was the first witness to Jesus’ resurrection. It was Mary Magdalene who was the first to proclaim the good news of Jesus’ resurrection. I ended this sermon saying, “Mary’s experiences remind us of the profound impact that faith and love can forge in our lives, and in the lives of others. The courage and hope portrayed in Mary’s story encourages us to push ahead, spreading love and light, ensuring that we each play our part in this grand narrative of faith.”

As you’ve already figured out, the strong woman I chose today is, as scripture describes her, “a woman who had been suffering from a hemorrhage for twelve years.”  Once again, this is another woman without a name.  She’s known by her ailment – she’s been bleeding for twelve years.  Twelve years.  Imagine!  “Look!  There’s that woman who has been bleeding for twelve years.” 

First, we heard in the passage from Leviticus the true shame of this woman’s condition.  According to Hebrew law, this woman was unclean.  For twelve years this woman was considered impure.  Impure. What a branding.  Every bed she lay on was unclean and anyone touching the bed was unclean.  Everything she sat on was unclean and anyone who touched what she sat on, was unclean.  For twelve years.  Twelve years. 

The Jewish cleanliness laws were strictly adhered to.  It is very likely that she was ostracized from any family she had.  For twelve years!  Ostracized from her community.  For twelve years.  After all, if anyone who touched her became unclean, she would not be welcome, anywhere.

This woman – I wish she had a name – had tried everything.   Scripture tells us that “She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse.”  This twelve-year quest for a cure would have drained her of her finances and it would have prevented her from participating in any activities during that time.

This woman was in a state of perpetual cultic impurity. So for twelve long years, this woman not only suffered physically, but she was shamed and isolated.  That’s a lot of suffering.  It would be easy to understand if she were depressed.  If she were completely hopeless.  It would be understandable if she felt bitter and angry.  Yet there is nothing in scripture to tell us she that she felt this way. 

This woman heard about Jesus, came up behind him in the crowd, and touched his cloak.  This woman is bold!  She’s strong!  Everyone knew of her affliction.  She was shamed and isolated from her community.  But she heard about Jesus and believed that if she could just touch the hem of his robe, she would be healed. All she had to do was touch it.

Honestly, this woman blows my mind.  Think about all the strikes against her.  First, she was a woman – a 2^nd class citizen in Jesus’ time.  Then, think of the attitude the community must have had about her.  Impurity was shunned. Impurity was a sin.  Even today, her ailment is not something we openly talk about is it?  It’s private.  It’s personal.  It’s embarrassing. Jewish law required her to be removed from the community.  She was labeled “impure”.  Even touching her made that person impure too.  Then, think of how physically weak she must have been – she had been hemorrhaging for twelve years!  She had to be anemic.  Think how easily she could have given up.  She had every reason to stay isolated.  To suffer quietly.  Over twelve years, even physicians could not help her.  But that was not the end of her story. She did not stay away.  She heard. She believed. She went.  Think of the courage that took! 

This woman reached out – literally.  She had heard and she believed.  “Even if I touch the hem of His robe, I will be healed.”  So she stepped out. She was bold, people!  She became part of the crowd surrounding Jesus and she slowly got closer and closer, until finally she was close enough.  She bent over and brushed her hand against the hem of Jesus’ cloak.  Barely touching it.

Notice that this woman is healed completely by her own initiative.  She heard reports about Jesus and tells herself that if she can only touch his garment, she will be healed. Her action was doubly audacious – a violation of social codes for proper female behavior and a violation of religious law. Her unclean condition, her touch would also transfer her impurity to Jesus. Jesus takes no active part whatsoever in her healing, confirming the truth of His statement, “your faith has made you well.”  The moment she touches the hem of His cloak – the very moment, her bleeding stops and she feels in her body that she is whole.^[1]  Imagine how that must have felt!

Only after the woman’s assertive action of touching His robe and being healed does Jesus become an active part of this story.  Jesus senses that something in His body has changed.  He sensed some power leaving His body.  He asks, “Who touched me?”  This seems like a futile question in the midst of a crowd of people pressing against Him.  But this question indicates that the woman’s touch was one of faith – a distinction from the jostling of the crowd. ^[2]

Have you ever been shamed because of something about yourself?  Perhaps a physical feature; perhaps a past mistake you made. Maybe you’ve been shamed and isolated because of a physical or mental disability.  Perhaps you’ve been made to feel shame because of a mental health challenge that you have that others don’t understand.  Maybe you have been diagnosed with a physical condition or illness that somehow feels socially unacceptable.  Something that makes you feel less-than.  Isolated.  Alone.  Afraid people will think less of you. An embarrassment. 

I cannot imagine myself in this woman’s position.  I hate to impose on others.  I never want to be a bother.  I don’t want to feel like I’m in the way or asking something of someone that they’d rather not give.  My hunch is that women have been particularly conditioned to avoid imposing on others.[3]

I think it’s not only that we don’t want to impose, but that we have a very broad understanding of what might be an imposition.  We expect people to be upset when we ask something of them; we expect them to be irritated, resentful, even angry.  And, sometimes they might be.  And you know, that’s okay.  But what if we are not imposing as much as we think.  What if there is fine line between imposition and interaction?  What if people like to be asked, to be valued, to serve?

I think you know that I retired from pastoring Fairfield Community Church because I got quite ill.  I was in the hospital for a couple of weeks and went home on oxygen and using a walker because I was so weak.  I was not able to be at church – to serve at all.  Because of things in my past, it is VERY difficult for me to not only ask for help, but, to accept help.  Plus, as the pastor, it was my role to care for my congregation.  Not for my congregation to care for me.  I was the pastor.

For months, people brought me meals.  For months, someone did my laundry – including my underwear!  Someone changed my sheets.  There was a person who drove me to doctor appointments.    In fact, when I finally resigned, the congregation even came and packed my house and moved me – and no, it wasn’t because they wanted to get rid of me! 

I cannot begin to explain how hard that was for me.  To me, the roles were backwards.  I was supposed to be the caregiver.  I felt like a burden.  Like a responsibility they felt on top of their own lives.  I felt like I was weak.  I even wondered if people thought I was lazy.  But I needed the help.  I could not do those things myself.

At my retirement, the congregation gave me a journal that they had written in.  I wept as I read it later that day.  So many of the entries spoke of the gift it was for them to be able to care for me.  They thanked me for “letting” them bless me.  How good they felt feeding me and meeting my needs.  How good it was to reciprocate my care for them. I was very humbled.  And it was a reminder that maybe asking for help isn’t an imposition after all.  Maybe it’s a blessing for those who are able to step up and help.

Jesus certainly did not condemn that woman for being an imposition.  If He had been concerned about the delay she caused, he could have just kept walking.  The woman had touched His cloak and been healed.  He could have felt her touch, been irritated, and kept going to a “more important” task; to healing the daughter of Jairus, a leader of the synagogue.  Someone more important than just an impure woman.  But Jesus does not keep walking.  He stops and asks who had touched him.  He gives the woman more time and energy than she asked of him;  more than she thought she needed[4].

The narrator of this passage says that the woman tells Jesus “the whole truth”.  We often think this is an imposition too, don’t we?  To share the fullness of our stories, to share the sad realities of our lives.  I don’t know exactly what she tells Jesus.  It’s possible that “the whole truth” takes a while to tell – yet another imposition.  But Jesus listens.  He’s not annoyed.  He isn’t impatient.  He calls her daughter and sends her away healed and in peace.[5]  This woman’s twelve years  of illness constituted a social death in which she was barred from community and family. Her courage; her boldness resulted in complete healing and redemption. 

The boldness of this woman – this woman who suffered a shaming illness  that made her impure for twelve years is a reminder to us that we must also be bold!  We must be strong just like this woman when we are faced with hardship, with adversity, with something you perceive as embarrassing, or something someone told us we should be ashamed. We too must have the courage to reach out for help.  We can learn from both the woman’s willingness to impose herself on Jesus and from Jesus’ gracious response to her reaching out.  Indeed, human action is not an imposition.  It is what we are here for.  We are called to serve one another in love.

Thanks be to God!   Amen.

 

 

---

[1] Newsom and Ringe, Women’s Bible Commentary (Expanded Edition) with Apocrypha,  1998.  Westminster John Knox Press.  Louisville, KY.  P. 355
[2] Ibid.
[3] Harader. Prone to Wander.  A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness. 2025.  Herald Press.  Harrisonburg, VA.  P.136.
[4] Harader. Prone to Wander.  A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness. 2025.  Herald Press.  Harrisonburg, VA.  P.136.
[5] Harader. Prone to Wander.  A Lenten Journey with Women in the Wilderness. 2025.  Herald Press.  Harrisonburg, VA.  P.136.

 

It's Woke!

Rev. Debbie Cato
Exodus 20:17 and Matthew 22:34-40
Bethany Presbyterian Church, Spokane, WA
September 6, 2026 

It’s Woke!

 

 

Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  AND, love your neighbor as yourself.  This is how Jesus answered the Pharisees when they tried to test Him.  We are told that an expert in the law asked the question. “Jesus, what is the greatest commandment in all the law?”  They were testing Jesus.) Now I don’t know what answer they were expecting, but I am pretty sure they were not expecting the answer Jesus gave them.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind.  AND, love your neighbor as yourself.  I can picture the pharisees walking away, just shaking their heads.

I think we tend to nod our heads in agreement with Jesus.  Of course that’s the most important commandment, we say..  Love the Lord with all your heart, all your mind, and all your soul.  In fact, I bet most of us know that verse by heart.  I think we tend to focus on this first part of what Jesus says is the greatest commandment in the law because it’s logical. 

Of course, we love God with all that we are. I don’t think any of us who consider ourselves Christians would disagree with that.  And, I would venture to say that we all believe that we, in fact, love God with our whole heart, our whole mind, our whole soul.  But I’m a preacher and I have to ask, do we really?

When Jesus is asked what the greatest commandment is, we tend to forget that Jesus doesn’t stop at just one. Jesus puts another commandment right alongside the first.  It’s as if Jesus is saying; you are not following the first, if you do not follow the second.  You really can’t love God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind if you do not love your neighbor as yourself.  Loving God is certainly less risky than loving our neighbor as our self. It’s much easier to just follow the first commandment. But, we do not love God, if we do not love God’s people. And – we can’t pick and choose who the neighbor is, either.

Paul Carden, a Christian apologist and missionary said, “You will never look into the eyes of someone God doesn't love”  I’m going to repeat this.  Carden said, “You will never look into the eyes of someone God’s doesn’t love.”  He says, “It’s a truth so simple, yet so profound, it could change the way we see the world: you will never…. ever look into the eyes of someone God doesn’t love.  Not once. Not ever.”

Carden goes on,  “Every person you encounter: the stranger, the friend, the rival, the one you struggle to understand — all of them are seen and cherished by God. His love is not rationed, not conditional, not selective. It is relentless.”  Sounds like what some today would call “woke.”  Love your stranger, friend, rival, the one you struggle to understand.  Definitely a woke idea.

No wonder Jesus’ ties the first and greatest commandment to the second.  If you don’t love those God created – your neighbors (who. by the way, are not just those who live next door to you), then you really aren’t loving God with all your heart, your mind, your soul.  The two are dependent on each other.

I’ve been thinking a lot about love this last month.  About this passage, actually.  August was a month of devastating fires that took so many people’s homes and all their possessions.  The fires smoldered the hope of future plans for hundreds of families. The devastation is hard to describe, much less to wrap our minds around.

But what followed the devastation is nothing short of love.

1.  I saw pictures of cases and cases and cases of water donated both during and after the fires.

2. I saw people offer their campers/trailers to those who lost their homes – total strangers.

3.  I saw people offer their cabins/summer homes – again, to strangers.

4. I saw restaurants feed first responders at no cost.

5.  Restaurants prepare meals for families that have no place to cook.

6.  I saw coffee shops and pubs donate all their proceeds for recovery efforts – often in the tens of thousands of dollars.

7.  I saw apartment complexes offer apartments to families.

8.  I saw piles of school supplies and backpacks donated for the children who lost their homes during the fire.

9.  I saw dozens and dozens of volunteers at a donation site.  There were piles and piles of pillows and blankets and food.  One of the volunteers told me they had never seen anything like that.

I could go on and on.  I’m sure you also saw demonstrations of “loving your neighbor” over the last month.  The month of devastation.

It was not just Christians loving their neighbors and being generous. It wasn’t just Christians that were following what Jesus calls the greatest commandments.  I know that several Muslim-owned restaurants were and I think, still are, cooking and feeding people for free.  I know the refugee community – struggling financially themselves, made significant donations of food, clothing, and household goods. I know a Buddhist group that collected school supplies.  TV stations, banks, and many businesses stepped up and made significant donations for those affected by the wildfires.  And it keeps coming.

I’m sure many of the generous people helping are Christians.  After all, this commandment is for us.  This call to love our neighbor as ourselves. But not everyone helping, not everyone being generous considers themselves Christians.  People from all cultures, all backgrounds, all religious affiliations – or honestly, no religious affiliations have stepped up.

When the Pharisee’s tried to test Jesus by asking Him what the greatest commandment in the law was, there were a lot of laws to choose from.  Laws like the ten commandments, the laws about cleanliness, sacrifices, worship. But Jesus knew what was in the law that was the most important.  The most God-like.  The greatest.  Jesus knew the Pharisee’s would not like the answer.  The answer didn’t fit their mentality; their idea of what was important.  But, Jesus answered the Pharisees anyway and he shook them to their core.  Well, there isn’t just one, Jesus said.  The greatest of all the laws is to love God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.  But the second greatest commandment, the commandment that goes right along with the first is to love your neighbor as yourself. 

As I’ve been thinking about all the acts of love; all the acts of kindness that have followed the devastating fires, I’ve realized that this is the way it’s supposed to be. All the time. We are supposed to love our neighbor.  We are supposed to help those in need; those without; those struggling. 

Even when there isn’t a disaster.  Or maybe, especially when there’s no disaster. These are our neighbors – not just the ones that live next door; not just the ones that look and act like us; but all people are our neighbors.  God expects us to love everyone that He loves. All the time.

I’ve realized that we are supposed to give out of our abundance all the time.  The fires were a wake-up call for me.  I realized how much abundance I actually have.  This is a small example but a couple mornings into the fire, I was making my bed.  Now, I love a lot of pillows on my bed.  I was putting all the pillows back on my bed and I just sat down.  I realized that I did not need 6 bed pillows on my bed.  Yes.  I loved how they looked.  I loved how full and fluffy they made my bed look.  But there were people who did not have a single pillow to sleep on and I had six.  There were children without a pillow to lay their head on at night.

I put four of those bed pillows in a bag and immediately started to look for all my extra blankets.  Then I realized that I also had extra dishes.  I started packing and couldn’t stop all day.

I’m not telling you this to get an ovation.  I didn’t need all that extra stuff.  Period.  And honestly, it should not have taken devastating fires for me to figure that out.  Someone needed the things that I wasn’t even using.  I took those 4 pillows off my bed every night to go to sleep.  I had never needed them. 

All this has caused me to do a lot of thinking.  About myself, about us Christians, about this “love your neighbor stuff.”  How might the world be better, if we, as a community of faith truly lived out those commandments?  What would it look like to regularly show love for our neighbor?  Maybe not only people just like us who desperately need our help during a disaster, but maybe those that are not like us; that don’t live close by; that may believe or act differently than we do.  What would it look like to share out of our abundance all the time?  To not keep more than we need.  To care when people are hurting.  When people are struggling.  When people are just trying to get by the best they can?  What would happen if we were always as generous as we have seen people be over the last few weeks?  What would it look like if it didn’t take a disaster to really care about one another?  To really love one another?

Thomas Merton, who was a well-respected American Trappist monk, theologian, mystic, poet, and social activist said:  “Our job is to love others without stopping to inquire whether or not they are worthy.  That is not our business, and in fact, it is nobody’s business.  What we are asked to do is to love, and this love itself will render both ourselves and our neighbor worthy.”  Another woke idea!

This church, Bethany Presbyterian Church in Spokane, WA is going to have so many opportunities to love those that God loves. So many opportunities to embrace what Jesus taught.

You will be housing people from different cultures, with different lifestyles, and ideas that are different than your own. Think of all you’ll be able to learn!  Think of the opportunities to expand your understanding of God’s humanity!  You’ll have the opportunity to share your space with people that may have different worship styles than you do; different ideas about worship.  Think of the opportunities you’ll have to expand your understanding of what worshiping God looks like!  Your space may be used in ways you haven’t imagined yet.  You will have the opportunity to be accepting of differences and enrich your own appreciation of what God makes possible.  You are breaking ground and beginning to construct new possibilities and new ways of “loving your neighbor” in exciting ways.  The whole Presbytery is so excited for what this church is doing.  For what you say you are about.  You will be able to stop just saying you are inclusive, to really being inclusive – even if it stretches you out of your comfort zone.  God is presenting you with unknown possibilities.  It will be up to you to live into it.  To love without judgement, to put your own preconceived ideas aside and be open to the richness that the lives of those you house will bring into your own lives; into this congregation.  You have the opportunity to be completely woke!

This commandment – this loving your neighbor thing, is more about loving humanity than it is a discussion about who is my neighbor.  It’s about loving those that God loves. 

When all is said and done, the only thing that will truly have mattered is this:  Did we love?  Did. We. Love?  (Jamie Barone)

I’m going to close with a poem I saw on Monday.  It fits so well with what Jesus is asking of us when he said the greatest commandment was to love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.  AND, Love your neighbor as yourself.  It’s called “Loving Instead of Judging” by Ullie Kaye.  It goes like this:

 

Loving instead of judging
looks like bringing food
instead of wondering why they can’t afford it.

 Loving instead of judging
looks like assuming the
alcoholic is drowning sadness out
instead of assuming they
are enjoying the swim.

 Loving instead of judging
looks like bandaging up
someone else’s wounds
instead of asking why they
let themselves get hurt again.

 Loving instead of judging looks like grace – 
instead of gunfire.

Amen.

 

Strong Women of the Bible: Mary Magdalene

Rev. Debbie Cato
Luke 8:1-3,  John 20:1-19 and Psalm 51:1-12
Manitou Presbyterian Church Spokane
August 16, 2026

Strong Women of the Bible
Mary Magdalene

 

 

This is second sermon of my three-part series on strong women of the Bible.  If you were a couple of weeks ago, you heard me preach about the Samaritan Woman – a woman without a name.  Yet, this woman; this Samaritan woman, became an evangelizer to the Samaritans.  By engaging Jesus in a conversation, and questioning, even challenging what he was saying, this woman opened the door for the Messiah’s message of good news to begin the journey from the Jews to “throughout the world.”

As you could tell from today’s Scripture readings from both Luke and John, we are going to talk about Mary Magdalene, my second example of a strong woman in the New Testament.

The first time we specifically meet Mary Magdalene is in Luke 8.  Luke tells us that Mary, from whom seven demons had gone out, was among the women who accompanied Jesus and financially supported His ministry. Jesus’ healing not only restored Mary’s physical and mental well-being but also led to her unwavering loyalty to Jesus, integrating her into his community of disciples.  She was a leading and devoted follower of Jesus. While the Gospels do not provide a detailed account of the healing event itself, it is clear that this moment of being healed from her illnesses marked a significant turning point for Mary. Mary later became a key witness to Jesus' resurrection.

Maurice Casey, the author of Jesus of Nazareth, concludes that Mary must have suffered from severe emotional or psychological trauma to deem an exorcism necessary. She was battered and bruised, injured and in agony from the suffering that demon possession entailed. Mary had lost all control and dignity, along with everything she knew in her previous life. Beauty and wealth did not spare Mary from the maliciousness that overcame and attacked her every hour of every day.  “Seven is a mystic number suggesting ‘completeness,’ implying that when the evil spirits dominated Mary the suffering was extremely severe.” ^[1]  They completely took over. She did not have a moment of peace. Imagine the shame of being linked to physical or psychological illness as a cause of demon possession. Mary would have been sunned and probably mocked by her community because of her mental illness.

Casey goes on to say that Mary Magdalene’s faithful discipleship to Jesus speaks of her profound personal history with Him. Having endured the torment of seven demons, Jesus delivered Mary from a prison of possession to freedom. Such a radical redemption ignited in Mary an unshakable loyalty and deep gratitude to Jesus. That she chose to follow Jesus and support His ministry financially may indicate she was a woman of considerable means. According to All the Women of the Bible, the name “Magdala” means “tower” or “castle,” suggesting a heritage or status that may have placed her in a position of influence.[2]

Yet, regardless of her wealth and social standing, Mary had experienced the depths of suffering. How humbling it must have been for a woman of any station to be overtaken by spiritual torment. But how much more astounding, then, is her devotion to the One who healed her. She gave generously, not only out of her substance, but out of the abundance of her restored soul.[3]

Perhaps you struggle with mental health challenges or maybe someone you love struggles with their mental health.  Unfortunately, even today, more than 2,000 years later, mental health still carries a stigma.  It’s still an illness too often misunderstood; too often wrapped in shame.  Often, like Mary, we identify the person struggling with mental health as “that mentally ill person,” much like Mary was identified by her illness – the woman possessed by seven demons.  But just like anyone who suffers from mental illness, Mary was so much more than her illness.

In the 13^th century, Thomas Aquinas, a priest who is now considered a saint of the Catholic Church, declared Mary Magdalene “an apostle to the apostles.” An apostle to the apostles.

In the Scripture we read this morning, the evangelist John tells us it is Mary Magdalene to whom Jesus first appears after His resurrection. It is Mary who is the first to see Jesus after His resurrection. Wow. It is Mary Magdalene whom Jesus instructed to proclaim the Easter message to others.  It is Mary Magdalene whom Jesus commissions to “ go tell Peter and the others that I have gone before them into Galilee.”  It is Mary Magdalene who first proclaims the Easter message.  And then, Scripture emphatically says, “But Peter and John and the others did not believe her and they went to the tomb to see for themselves.” “But Peter and John and the others did not believe her and they went to the tomb to see for themselves.”

Two thousand years later, little or nothing has changed.  The voice of women proclaiming the presence of Christ goes largely unconfirmed.  The call of women to ministry goes largely unnoted.  The commission of women to the church goes largely mocked. 

June 11 of this year, two months ago, the Southern Baptist Conference voted to ban women from pastoral ministry.  Think about it.  Not discouraged.  Banned from ministry.  This ban could very well lead to further bans of women’s voices in the church, period.[4]  If I had a nickel for every time someone told me they didn’t believe women should be in ministry, I would have a lot more money than I do now. 

As followers of Christ, we can look up to Mary Magdalene as a remarkable role model. Her life was centered around Jesus, as she traveled with Him and witnessed His miraculous works. Her passionate support for Jesus demonstrates the importance of community in our faith journey. We should remember that following Jesus is not just a personal endeavor but also a shared experience. We can take inspiration from Mary as we deepen our relationships with others and encourage one another in faith. Like her, we are called to devote our lives to serving and uplifting our communities through love, just as we saw Mary Magdalene do throughout her journey alongside Jesus. 

Mary Magdalene’s devotion to Jesus teaches us about unwavering faith and love. After witnessing His crucifixion and the pain that followed, she remained steadfast. Her devotion reminds us of the strength of a heart committed to Christ. In times of trial, we can look to Mary for inspiration as she demonstrates resilience and courage in the face of uncertainty. Her story encourages us to remain dedicated in our walk with God, trusting in His promises. Just like Mary Magdalene, we are reminded to place our hope and devotion in Jesus even when circumstances seem heavy.

Mary’s experience of witnessing Jesus’ suffering teaches us about empathy and compassion. She observed not only His miracles but also His pain, which deepens her understanding of each person’s struggles. In our lives, we will come across others who carry cruel burdens, and Mary’s response can inspire us to do the same. Her journey teaches us to be present through sorrow, providing support and comfort to those who are hurting, similar to how Mary supported Jesus. Together in faith, we can be a light for one another, reflecting the love of Christ to the world around us through our compassion and genuine care for others.

In spite of the immense grief and fear she must have felt that dark morning as she headed to the tomb, Mary Magdalene remained present and focused on anointing Jesus’ body for burial.  As a result, Mary Magdalene holds the incredible honor of being the first person to witness the resurrection of Jesus. This special role reminds us of the importance of women in the biblical narrative and their contributions to the faith community. As the first one to announce the great news of His victory over death, Mary exemplifies the calling that we all share – to spread the good news of Jesus. This special moment shows us that we are all capable of sharing the message of hope and salvation. Just like Mary, we can carry that powerful message forward, bringing joy and faith to those around us.

Mary Magdalene played a pivotal role in the early church, serving as an example of both faith and action. After the resurrection of Christ, she became one of His first evangelists. Her proclaiming the resurrection to the disciples shows us the power of sharing our experiences of faith. Each of us can take on a similar role in our communities. Sharing our own testimonies and encouraging others are essential parts of our Christian journey. By being vocal about our faith, just as Mary was, we actively participate in the building of God’s Kingdom, allowing others to encounter the love of Christ through our actions and words.

Mary Magdalene’s story offers a portrait of faith during challenging times. Through her trials and heartaches, she reveals the strength that comes from trusting in God. We know that life can bring obstacles and pain, but Mary teaches us that holding onto faith can lead to triumph. In facing our hardships, we can stand firm in our belief, knowing that God walks with us through the storm. Mary Magdalene’s unwavering faith serves as a beacon of hope for all of us, encouraging us to keep pressing on even when the path is difficult.

The impact of Mary Magdalene in Christianity cannot be overstated. She shapes the understanding of Christ’s mission and the role of believers. Her influence invites us to ponder our own call in the Christian faith. By following her footsteps, we can understand our responsibility to evangelize and support one another. Mary’s example of faithfulness and zeal serves as motivation for us to become active participants in sharing God’s love. Just as she set forth to share the good news, we, too, can be inspired to spread hope within our communities.

In our reflection on the life of Mary Magdalene, we discover a tapestry woven with pain, hardship, faith, love, and resilience. Her story is a beautiful reminder that regardless of our past, we can embrace new beginnings in Christ. Mary’s journey inspires us to remain steadfast during trials and to positively impact those around us. As we continue to seek God and nurture our faith within community, we follow the example Mary set forth for us, to boldly share the good news, uplift others, and live out our purpose with joy. There is so much to learn from her life, and together, we can carry forth Mary’s legacy in today’s world.

There is no doubt that Mary Magdalene is an important icon for the twenty-first century church.  She calls women to listen to the call of Christ over the call of the church.  She calls men to listen for the call of Christ in the messages

of women.  She calls women to courage and men to humility.  She calls all of us to faith and fortitude, to unity and universalism, to a Christianity that rises about sexism, a religion that transcends the idolatry of maleness, and a commitment to the things of God that overcomes every obstacle and surpasses every human system.^[5]

May Magdalene is a shining light of hope, a disciple of Christ, a model of the wholeness in a world full of despair and in a church whose vision is even now, only partial.[6] When we explore the life of Mary Magdalene, we learn that she was not just an ordinary woman; she carried a remarkable story of transformation. Coming from a troubled past, she encountered Jesus and was delivered from seven demons This encounter marked a turning point in her life, leading her to be a dedicated disciple. Understanding Mary’s background helps us to appreciate the depth of her devotion. It reminds us that no matter our past, we too are capable of immense love and service especially in spreading the message of Jesus, just as Mary Magdalene did. We can embrace her story and allow it to inspire our own journeys of faith toward healing and purpose.

Let’s remember to cherish the inspirational lessons found in Mary Magdalene’s journey. Her experiences remind us of the profound impact that faith and love can forge in our lives, and in the lives of others. Each of us has the potential to be a light in the world, reflecting the love of Christ just as she did. The courage and hope portrayed in Mary’s story encourages us to forge ahead, spreading love and light, ensuring that we each play our part in this grand narrative of faith. May we draw strength from her life and mirror her dedication as we walk our own paths of faith.  Amen.

---

[1] Casey, Maurice.  Jesus of Nazareth.  An Independent Historian’s Account of His Life and Teachingins.  T&T Clark. December 30, 2010.
[2] Ibid.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Chittister, Joan.  A Passion for Life.
[5] Chittister, Joan.  A Passion for Life.
[6] Ibid.