Yet, the most vital question of them all still remains. What is it that we love? One could argue that there are no Christians today in the Mary Magdalene mold because her love, bizarre as it may sound, would be regarded as complete heresy in most of the Christian churches in the world. Why? Because she loved Jesus no matter what. Can any Christian today honestly say the same?
Perhaps there should be a revival of this most ancient form of Christianity that seems to have been lost over the ages which is to reflect what Mary Magdalene demonstrated so movingly on the third day after her master’s death. Despite all the circumstances and all the invectives that were cast upon Mary, she went to the tomb of her teacher to tend to his dead body because she, unlike the millions of Christians today, loved Jesus unconditionally.
When I think back on Father Costello’s heated reaction on what he would do if Jesus’ bones were found (quit the order and party) and compare it with what Mary Magdalene did after she discovered the empty tomb (weep and try to find out where his body had been moved), it makes me pause and wonder: Was Mary Magdalene the only Christian?