Notes on Mary Magdalene

"Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’  She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!’ (which means Teacher)."

John 20:16

"Noli me tangere," Exultet Roll, Abbey of Montecasino

I

"Then the disciples returned to their homes.  But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb" (John 20:10–11):  Whether or not she was the woman who washed Jesus' feet with her tears (Lk. 7:38), it is certainly true that she, "from whom seven demons had gone out" (8:2), loved much (7:47).  Mary Magdalene loved much; she was one of the few who followed Jesus to the end, and was standing near his cross when he died (Jn. 19:25).  She came early on the morning to his tomb because her grief was boundless at the loss of the one whom she loved much.

The ambiguous sign of the empty tomb could not console her.  It signified only a double loss, for no she no longer knew where the body of the one whom she had loved was laid (Jn. 20:2).

She loved much, and so she stood weeping because it was beyond hope that she would see the one she loved again.  So when she saw him, she did not recognize him, thinking only of how she could find the one who had been twice taken from her.

II

Ludwig Wittgenstein:  “Perhaps we can say: Only love can believe the Resurrection.  Or:  It is love that believes in the Resurrection.  We might say: Redeeming love believes even in the Resurrection; holds fast even to the Resurrection.  What combats doubt is, as it were, redemption.  Holding fast to this must be holding fast to that belief.  So what that means is: first you must be redeemed and hold on to your redemption (keep hold of your redemption)—then you will see that you are holding fast to this belief.  So this can come about only if you no longer rest your weight on the earth but suspend yourself from heaven.  Then everything will be different and it will be ‘no wonder’ if you can do things that you cannot do now"  (Culture and Value, 32).

III

Only when she is called by her name does she recognize the risen Jesus.  She knew his voice (Jn. 10:27), the voice of the one she followed with such great love, the voice of her Teacher (20:16).  She hears the voice of love, which says, "Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine" (Isa. 43:1)—and she believes in the Resurrection.