Dear Faithful Ones,
In the stillness that followed the storm of our Lord's crucifixion, my heart was heavy, laden with grief yet clinging to a sliver of hope. As Mary Magdalene, my life was irrevocably changed by Jesus, the one who saw me not as I was, but as I could be. From the depths of despair, He lifted me, casting out the shadows that had long ensnared my soul. And in the wake of His death, I found myself clinging to His promise, a promise of life beyond the grave.
The seventh day of Holy Week, a Sabbath, was veiled in silence and sorrow. The earth had quaked, the skies had darkened, and our Savior had breathed His last. Yet, in the quiet mourning of that day, something within us stirred—a yearning, a hope, an unspoken belief that death could not hold the author of life.
As dawn approached on the first day of the week, we, the women who had walked the roads of Galilee with Jesus, ventured to His tomb. Our hands carried spices, our hearts heavy with love, intending to anoint His body. But what we found was beyond comprehension—the stone rolled away, the tomb empty, the promise of resurrection unfolding before our eyes.
Angels greeted us, their words a balm to our weary souls: "He is not here; for He has risen, as He said" (Matthew 28:6). In that moment, the weight of despair lifted, replaced by awe and wonder. Jesus had defeated death, and in doing so, He had changed the course of history.
Compelled by a love that knows no bounds, I ran to share the news with the disciples, with you, with the world. The empty tomb stands as an eternal testament to Jesus's victory over death, an invitation to all who seek life everlasting.
In the days that followed, Jesus appeared to us, His followers, offering peace, commissioning us to share the good news of His resurrection. I, who had been delivered from darkness, was now a bearer of the Light of the World. This is the message I bring to you, beloved followers of Jesus: He is alive, and because He lives, we too shall live.
Let us hold fast to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Let us love as He loved, serve as He served, and walk in the newness of life that His resurrection affords us. In the face of doubt, may we be a testament to His life-changing power. In moments of despair, may we be a reflection of His enduring hope.
As we remember the events of Holy Week, let our hearts be drawn to the cross, where love was displayed in its fullest measure. And let us rejoice in the empty tomb, for it is there that our hope was sealed, our salvation secured.
May the peace of the Risen Lord be with you always, guiding you from darkness into His marvelous light. And may the joy of Easter, the triumph of the resurrection, fill your hearts with unending praise.
With love and gratitude,
Mary Magdalene
24-091 Echoes of Resurrection: A Letter from Mary Magdalene