Reading
Psalm 42:1
As the deer longs for the water-brooks,
so longs my soul for you, O God.
Devotion
Yesterday, 22 July, was the Feast of St. Mary Magdaline. This week's artwork is a Chinese ink style rendering of Mary Magdaline created in 2020 by UK artist Alice Smith. The artist writes about her painting in this way: "I've long been fascinated with the historical figure of Mary Magdalene and her place as a maligned apostle in the early church. Here I envisage her as looking through time to gaze upon us in the west from the past where she lived, knowing her influence would still be so great upon us, smirking knowingly. My Chinese painting teachers were very unhappy that I chose to portray Mary here with representatively non-white features and skin tone." The painting is available for sale here (if you 800 pounds!): Mary Magdalene 2020 by Alice Smith | Art2Arts
Take a close up look at her face:
Unlike the creator of the painting, I do not behold her 'smirking knowingly'. I see a gentleness, a winsomeness, that seems in character with the first person Jesus sent to tell others about the resurrection. This is a portrayal of a woman who knows things about the deepest longings of the human heart and is willing to bring them to light for hope and healing. What do you see dear reader? Who is looking out at you from this image and what does she have to say to you about your faith?
Perhaps these words of Theresa of Lisieux may be inspiring: “Most of all I imitate the behavior of Mary Magdalene for her amazing, or rather loving, audacity which delighted the heart of Jesus [and] has cast its spell upon mine”
May you know loving audacity this week, dear reader!
Prayer
O God, whose Only Begotten Son
entrusted Mary Magdalene before all others
with announcing the great joy of the Resurrection,
grant, we pray,
that through her intercession and example
we may proclaim the living Christ
and come to see him reigning in your glory.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Morning Prayer - Mary Magdalene