Mary Magdalene Chose Hope Instead of Despair
09/17/10 06:24 Filed in: Hope
Today, many people are victims of foreclosures and layoffs; others are casualties of war or natural disasters; still others are laid low by injury, illness or addiction; they are victims of crime, prejudice, abuse, identity theft, Ponzi schemes and terrorist attacks. But we can't give in to despair. By her example, Mary Magdalene showed us there is an alternative to “victimhood.” In the aftermath of history’s greatest tragedy, she went back to the tomb. She returned to our Lord and Savior and her hope was rewarded.
“ . . . and with him the twelve, certain women who had been healed of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary that was called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out.” (Luke 8: 1-3)
The "DaVinci Code" drew a lot of attention to the relationship between Jesus and Mary Magdalene without actually shedding any light on its true nature. Here was a woman who had been possessed by seven demons, her soul totally subjugated by Satan, a hopeless sinner in the eyes of many of her contemporaries. But she refused to give in to despair; she refused to play the role of a victim.
Talk about being hopeful and resilient. Mary Magdalene turned her back on the nay sayers and detractors and turned toward Christ. Today, she is remembered as one of the most celebrated woman of all time. The evangelists mention her by name 14 times, more often than most of the apostles.
Mary Magdalene's devotion to Jesus was so strong that she stood by the cross when the other disciples lost hope and abandoned Him. She stayed with Him to the bitter end. Then she helped remove Him from the cross and prepared Him for burial. Three days later it was Jesus’ turn to reward her devotion. Mary Magdalene became the first person to see our risen Savior, the first one to spread the Good News.
The story of Mary Magdalene is one of great hope and resilience. She refused to think negatively nor see herself as a victim of circumstances.
We live in a culture which actually encourages us to think of ourselves as victims. In fact, Charles Sykes, in his book, "A Nation of Victims," pointed out that if you add up all the groups that believe they are victims, their numbers total almost 400 percent of the population.
Of course, many people are victims. They are the victims of foreclosures, plant closings and layoffs. They are the victims of injury, illness or addiction; they are the casualties of war or natural disasters; they are victims of crime, prejudice, abuse, identity theft, Ponzi schemes and terrorist attacks. There is a good chance that you fall into one or more of those categories. Life is hard.
In a culture of "victimhood," the natural tendency is to place the blame for our troubles somewhere else. But thinking of ourselves as victims implies that we cannot change things for the better. So long as something or someone else is responsible for our troubles, we are powerless to change them. We are choosing sympathy over success. We are choosing brokenness and despair. Regardless of what led up to our troubles, we have to own up to the way things are now. That is the first step in changing our lives for the better.
By her example of resilience, Mary Magdalene showed us there is an alternative to “victimhood.” With the grace of God, she overcame seven demons. She became more than a survivor; she became a success. In the aftermath of history’s greatest tragedy, she went back to the tomb. She returned to our Lord and Savior and her hope was rewarded once again. We have to take ownership of our problems before we can take them to the foot of the cross and leave them there.
See also more devotions on "Hope"
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