In celebration of the Feast of Mary Magdalene, I have read two gospel narratives. From Matt. 26:6-13 we read of the anointing of Jesus by Mary Magdalene, and in John 20:11-18 we read of Jesus appearing to Mary Magdalene upon his resurrection.
The anointing of Jesus may have much more meaning about Mary Magdalene than we have seen. It establishes Mary Magdalene (MM) in a special way, if we ask the question upon what right was she qualified to “anoint” Jesus?
There are several types of anointings, the one we are most familiar with in modern times is the anointing of the King and Queen in England. Most of us saw the coronation last year, when Prince Charles was elevated to the throne.
During the Coronation service the most sacred and Holy event was the anointing of the King, during which they played Handel’s piece “Zadok the Priest.”
At this point Prince Charles was sealed off from the world by screens, and the Archbishop of Canterbury and other priests anointed Charles the King, as “Zadok the Priest” played and was sung in the background. This was based on the original event, which was the anointing of Solomon, the son of King David, by Zadok the Priest and Nathan the prophet around 970 BCE. From this time forth the anointing was done by the prophet of Israel and the Priest of Israel. Carried over to modern times this is a very sacred and holy ritual.
So when Mary Magdalene anointed Jesus, she was operating in the role of priest and prophet. Think about the courage it took for her to ignore the complainings and attacks on her by the other disciples that were present. There are those who might say that her anointing was only the anointing that was given to dinner guests to wash their feet. But Jesus confirms that it was much more than this when he states that “she did it to prepare me for burial.”
Now the ritual of anointing for burial always took place AFTER the person was dead, and their body would be washed and anointed for direct burial. Therefore, I believe that the phrase “to prepare me for burial” has a deep meaning in that MM not only understood that Jesus was to be put to death (which was more than all the disciples understood at that time) but I believe Jesus and she understood that the burial contained within it the understanding of the resurrection. In which case this anointing rises to the exalted place not just of a Kingly anointing, but of the Christed anointing.
Mary Magdalene fulfilled this in the role of priest and prophet. That is why Jesus says “wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” Jesus never said this about anyone except Mary Magdalene.
The “Christ” is a general term that is defined in different ways, but I believe that the death, burial and resurrection story explains the worthiness of the title for Jesus. Interesting that the word Christ in Aramaic is “Meshikha” which carries the connotation of being anointed for a divine purpose, emphasizing Jesus’ role as the Messiah.
In a similar way, when Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene first after the resurrection, he appeared to her in her role of priest and prophet, in honor of her and by it he appointed her to be the first apostle. Many times when Jesus healed someone, he would tell them to go and show themselves to the Chief Priest, as proof of their healing to the city and community. Jesus “showed” himself to MM in recognition of his Christ role so that all things would be fulfilled, and as an honor to her in her role of priest and prophet. She not only witnessed the resurrection, but took upon herself the office of the first apostle to go and tell the other disciples that Jesus was risen. Truly she is a woman of power, courage, and love.
Why then does the Church not do what Jesus said to do?
Matt 26:13 Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.
It is interesting that he said that it would be told in memory of HER, and not in memory of Him!! So, that is why I will remember her as Jesus instructed at every Mass that I celebrate. I will say these words during the Eucharistic prayer, intercession part:
In accordance with the wish of Jesus, we recognize and honor the anointing of Jesus by Mary Magdalene, as she assumed the role of prophet and priest in anointing Jesus, who proclaimed that “wherever this gospel is preached, that what she has done will also be told in memory of her.
For the Church to err so grievously in not allowing women to be priests is obviously an attempt to return to the discrimination of gender roles of 2000 years ago by ignoring MM’s great act of power and courage and love in her anointing of Jesus!
May all of you and our Community (SCSMM) be blessed on this Feast of Mary Magdalene.
Note: it is for these reasons and many more, that we are proud and honored to have our community named for Mary Magdalene.