Mary of Magdala. You remember her, right? Mary Magdalene? The woman with seven devils? The woman whose devils were cast out of her by Jesus? Remember her? Sure you do! She was one of those women who traveled with Jesus, at least part of the time. She is one of those who was witness to a Jesus crucifixion, death, and burial. She was the first to announce his resurrection. Yes, indeed, you remember her. But do you think much about her? About her experience with Jesus?
Do you think much about what it would have been like to live in the unbearable clutches of a demon, of several demons? Or what it would have been like to be self-aware and to know the hopelessness, the helplessness, of your situation? Imagine being shunned by everyone, whispered about, condemned, or, even worse, pitied. Imagine trying over and over for years, for decades, to break free from the sin that constrained you, making promise after promise to yourself—promises that, even as you made them, you knew you wouldn’t, couldn’t, keep.
Or maybe you don’t have to imagine. Maybe you know. Maybe you’re living that life as you read these words. What are the demons crowding you? Lust? Greed? Hopelessness? Anger? Pride? What have you been struggling with for as long as you can remember? Whatever it is, you aren’t the only one, no matter what that pernicious little voice inside your heart insists. No temptation has assaulted you but what is familiar to every man (1 Corinthians 10:13). I’ve been where you are; you’ve been where I am. We have a shared experience, you and I, along with all of humanity, and so we can empathize with and encourage each other.
And here is my encouragement for you. Imagine Mary, the woman from the little fishing village of Magdala, the moment she understands her chains are gone; imagine the first sweet taste of freedom, that first day of deliverance. Imagine her searching inside herself and finding no more devils, then turning her face towards the man who made them leave. Can you comprehend the love and gratitude that must have burned out from inside her? No wonder she followed him. No wonder she was with him at the end, at the new beginning. Now imagine yourself in that same moment of freedom, no longer a slave to sin, but, as it were, newly born. What would that be like, do you think? That’s the gift Christ offers to us, just as he did to Mary. Accept it, won’t you? Accept it, and learn to live in
Peace.
