Believe

Matthew 8:23-27. [23] “Then he got into the boat and his disciples followed him. [24] Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. [25] The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Lord, save us! We’re going to drown!” [26] He replied, “You of little faith, why are you so afraid?” Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. [27] The men were amazed and asked, “What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!” (NIV)

On July 22, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Mary Magdelene, one of the most prominent women mentioned in the New Testament.

Her name comes from the town of Magdala in Galilee where she was born.

Scripture introduces her as a woman “who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out” (Lk. 8:2).

Some scholars identify Mary Magdalene with the sinful woman who anointed the feet of Christ with oil in the house of Simon the Pharisee (Lk. 7:36-50).

Others associate her with Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Lk. 10:38-42, Jn. 11).

Some believe the three figures to be one person, while others believe them to be three distinct individuals.

What the Scriptures make certain about Mary Magdalene is that she was a follower of Christ, who accompanied and ministered to him (Lk. 8:2-3).

The Gospels record her as being one of the women present at Christ’s crucifixion.

In addition, she was the first recorded witness of the Resurrection.

The Gospels all describe Mary Magdalene going to the tomb on Easter morning.

When she saw that the tomb was empty, she stood outside, weeping.

Jesus appeared to her and asked her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” (Jn. 20:15)

She did not recognize him, however, and thought he was the gardener, until he said her name, “Mary!” (Jn. 20:16)

Upon hearing this, Mary recognized him.

She returned to the grieving disciples to announce to them the message of the Resurrection.

Pope Benedict XVI spoke about Mary Magdalene in his address before the Angelus on 23 July 2006.

He referred to her as “a disciple of the Lord who plays a lead role in the Gospels.”

The Pope recalled Mary Magdalene’s presence “beneath the Cross” on Good Friday, as well as how “she was to be the one to discover the empty tomb” on Easter morning.

“The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth,” Pope Benedict said.

“A disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for his help, has been healed by him and has set out following closely after him, becoming a witness of the power of his merciful love that is stronger than sin and death.”

A song of David written when he was in the desert of Judah.

1 God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you in this dry and weary land without water. 2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple. I have seen your strength and glory. 3 Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you. 4 By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer. 5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger, my joyful lips hunger to praise you! 6 I remember you while lying on my bed. I think about you in the middle of the night. 7 That is because you are the one who helps me. It makes me happy to be under your protection! 8 I stay close to you, and you hold me with your powerful arm.

9 Those who are trying to kill me will be destroyed. They will go down to their graves. 10 They will be killed with swords. Wild dogs will eat their dead bodies. 11 But the king will be happy with his God, and those who promised to obey him will praise him when he defeats those liars. — Psalm 63 | Easy-to-Read Version (ERV) The Holy Bible, Easy-to-Read Version Copyright © 2006 by Bible League International. Cross References: Numbers 32:12; Deuteronomy 6:13; Ruth 2:12; 1 Samuel 22:5; Psalm 1:2; Psalm 17:8; Psalm 27:4; Psalm 28:2; Psalm 36:8; Psalm 54:3; Psalm 68:24; Psalm 69:16; Psalm 119:55; Psalm 119:148; Psalm 119:171; Jeremiah 18:21; Lamentations 5:18; Ezekiel 31:14; Matthew 5:6; Luke 10:11; Romans 3:19; 1 Timothy 2:8

Yesterday, as I prayed the Rosary, I had a vision.

Our Lady of Sorrows was there—cloaked in silence, steadfast in grief.

I felt motionless, defeated, tired of fighting this invisible war.

And then I saw Her reach into her Immaculate Heart

and pull out one of her swords.

Without hesitation, she pierced my heart.

I watched as she looked upon the blood it drew—

not with horror, but with solemn understanding.

Then she placed the sword back into my heart.

In that instant, I knew:

My heart and the Heart of Jesus were one.

His Cross was mine. My suffering was no longer just my own—

it was united to His, for the salvation of souls.

And I pledged:

I will take up my cross and follow Him.

No matter the pain, no matter the cost.

⸻

I once knew the sorrows of depression—

the weight on my chest that made breathing feel like drowning.

I was once the victim of demonic oppression

that dragged me into years of despair.

But in the darkness, I cried out to Mary.

And she came.

She did what only a Mother could do—

She brought me to the Truth.

She brought me to Jesus.

Now I walk not as a victim,

but as a warrior—marked by sorrow, but claimed by grace.

How amazing it is that the cross was intended and used by the Romans that people may look upon it and not dare to take the path of the person crucified; yet used and intended by God that we may look upon the crucified Christ and dare not take any path other than His, for it is for our every straying path that the Righteous One was crushed in such a chilling way, and into His Way that He has lovingly delivered us at such a precious price. God also gives us this sight of His Son to bless us with security, everlasting assurance in His Forgiveness freeing us from every sin forever.

What we are blessed with is a fear of ever leaving the path of Righteousness and Salvation and a relief in knowing that by God who alone is able to keep us from stumbling and lifts us up in Jesus we are kept and led on this very path forever.

In looking at the cross and at the empty tomb,  The cross that was thought to instill the fear of death kills the fear of death as God lifts our gazes to know with assured faith that our King is Risen from this death in the greatest Victory, the one and only Victory that redeems us into eternal life.