|
Sermon for Evensong
- 21st July 2013
It is not very often that we have two sermons on one Sunday evening,
but I hope you will bear with me if touch on two subjects. Well
the first isn't a sermon, but too any it seems just as important!
Firstly, the very important Ashes Test Series against Australia
which has started from an English point of view, very well, with
a narrow victory at Trent Bridge followed by a huge victory for
the hosts 'in the offing' at Lord's.
But, I couldn't of course let this important day go by without
mention of Mary Magdalene, whose feast day we celebrate tomorrow,
22 July.
Well, she will best be remembered as being present at the Crucifixion,
and going with two others to Jesus's tomb and finding it empty.
The Western tradition has resulted in St Mary Magdalen being
considered as an outstanding type of penitent and contemplative.
The Eastern tradition has her very outgoing and legend has it
that at one time she was betrothed to St John the Evangelist.
Obviously we don't know for sure whether that it accurate. Her
emblem is ' an ointment jar '.
What do we know about her for sure? Well, Mary of Magdala was
the woman from which our Lord cast out seven devils - the seven
deadly sins. No greater example of penitence than that shown
by Mary has ever been known.
She braved the jeers of the Pharisee's guests where Jesus sat
at Dinner, to show her love and gratitude to her Saviour, she
washed his feet with her tears, and dried them with her hair,
kissing and anointing them with costly perfume.
It is thought that Mary Magdalene attended our Lady when she
went with St John to Ephesus, and there is a tradition that with
St Martha , Lazarus and others, she went to Marseilles and there
helped to found the Church.
Her relics are said to be at Vezelay and her head enshrined at
St. Maximin in Provence.
Perhaps she will be most remembered
for the fact that she was the first person to visit the Sepulchre.
You will know the story from St John's Gospel well, I am sure.
She went to the tomb to anoint the body, but to her shock it
was empty, the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.
And the tomb was bare.
She looked round but there was no-one there apart from 'a gardener'.
She asked him if he knew where the body had been taken.
The reply came in one simple word, which has gone into history,
a word spoken by the supposed gardener, - a word which changed
the world for ever -'MARY'.
Mary of Magdala who washed his feet with her hair; to Mary belonged
that great privilege of being the first person to see the Risen
Lord, and to pass it on. What a responsibility. Well 2013 years
later - this is the reason we are here tonight.
So indeed, on her feast day, we do indeed celebrate her life.
AMEN.
|
