A Great Saint

Yesterday was the feastday of St. Mary Magdalene, a woman who has been consistently misunderstood throughout the years.  Scripture does not say she was a prostitute, but only that Jesus had cast out "seven demons" from her (Luke 8:1-3).

Coincidentally, last night's segment of 20/20 featured two little girls who were schizophrenic from birth.  From the very beginning of their lives, one might suspect they were inhabited by "seven demons."  By the time they were old enough to be rational, they hated their lives and would do anything to escape the torment they were going through.  One would run into traffic, hoping to be hit by a truck so that the "spirits" would stop pursuing her.  One begged to be locked up so that she would not hurt her parents and sisters, who she loved.  The agony of these children was horrible to watch.  They constantly heard voices and saw rats, spirits, men, faces who told them to jump off buildings, kill themselves and/or others, etc.  They were constantly pursued and in terror.  One child screamed to her parents to get her beloved dogs away so they would not be harmed.

Wikipedia's entry on Mary Magdalene mentions the thought of modern scholars that Mary may have been healed of illness and disease.  If she was going through what these children are going through, we can appreciate her total dedication and devotion to the Christ of God Who delivered her from this kind of torment and evil.  As I watched 20/20 last night, I prayed the whole time for a similar deliverance for these children and their parents and siblings.  I was reminded of Jesus' saying, "The enemy comes to harm and destroy, but I have come to give life more abundantly."

It does not matter what label we put on their suffering, whether schizophrenic or demonic possession---what matters is their being set free, delivered, restored to their right minds, freed from terror.  No wonder Mary Magdalene returned to the tomb of Jesus as soon as the Sabbeth was over; her grief at his death must have been unconsolable.  She assailed the "Gardener" with her grief, but as soon as He spoke her name, she recognized Him.  No wonder she was "clinging" to Him in relief and gratitude.

Jesus entrusted Mary with the news of His resurrection and ascension to "My Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Jn.20:17).  "Go to my brothers," He told her, making her the first witness of the Resurrection.  She was considered the Apostle to the Apostles, this, the woman out of whom seven demons were ejected.  Some ancient texts refer to her with the title Equal to the Apostles.
 
My prayer this morning is that Mary Magdalene, having known the torments of seven demons, would intercede for the deliverance of all those suffering from the same torments of mind and body.