Masterpiece Sunday - The Penitent Magdalen

The Penitent Magdalen, Georges de La Tour, 1640. The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, New York. 

“Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark” - John 20:1

I can imagine that Mary Magdalene had quite a restless night before she went to the tomb. A night of tossing and turning, thinking about what happened to Jesus and the whereabouts of the rest of his followers. The horrific images were plaguing her to the point where she could not stay in bed any longer. She had to get up and go. There was no grogginess or confusion within her, only clarity of her desire to visit the Lord’s tomb. 

There are many times in my life when I can remember waiting for the hope of light to begin. I feel like I am in the dark, unsure of where to turn and stuck in the place that I am in. This builds upon itself to a moment where I think that I cannot go on any longer but then, wow! There it is! A little glimpse of the light. A lightening of the darkness. There is a recognition that the dark depths are not stagnant, but that you can begin to see the outlines and shapes of the things that surround you. 

Mary Magdalene was waiting for the time where she could see just a little bit and the beginnings of the day could be anticipated. It was still in the darkness that she began to move. She trusted that the Lord would show her the way and that her movements could be trusted. 

I find myself wanting the path to be completely clear and lit before I make a decision. I drag my feet, waiting for the Lord to be abundantly clear in His will and desire for me. Stepping out in hopeful faith is something that is hard for me. Mary Magdalene is such an inspiration to me because she does not wait to go, she is filled with the Holy Spirit and cannot stay still when she believes what she knows she has to do. She does not wait for the light but instead chases after it. Light can also be applied to the terms of knowledge and understanding. When we grow in knowledge, our minds are lightened and we grow in understanding.

I like to believe that the sunrise on the empty tomb was the most magnificent in all of human history. It was this sunrise that Mary Magdalene experienced when she saw the stone rolled away and her Lord was missing. Again, she does not wait for the light of knowledge but goes forth to seek it out. She tells and wonders with Simon Peter and the beloved disciple before going to the garden, where Jesus appears to her. She seeks after Jesus Christ - after this knowledge and light, but she does not have it until He gifts it to her.  All of our work and chasing after the goodness of God will only come to fruition when He blesses it and gifts it to us. Mary Magdalene receives the light of understanding and Jesus Christ in a moment of love, rejoicing and clarity. And again, what does she do? She does not wait or keep it to herself, but she goes out and shares: 

“I have seen the Lord” - John 1:18