Passionate Voices – Tuesday

Mary Magdalene

He walks to Jerusalem today – no crowds, no songs, no Temple protests.  We walk wondering what the day will bring.  I hear the whispers from the crowds, see their looks.  In the Temple the men go through to the inner courts, we wait with the Greeks in the outer area.  One of the sellers who had been disturbed yesterday walks past, she spits on me, “whore! Galilean filth!” she hisses under her breath.  Her words cut deeply as she moved on to her own dishonourable trade.  “Wrong Mary I want to say – not a whore, just demon possessed in the past: abused, rejected, feared, loathed; but not a whore.”  My eyes catch Mary, the other Mary, looking at me. She mouths ‘sorry’, I smile, tears fall from my eyes and hers.  The Master has spoken of harsh words and rejection, of pain and persecution.  Mary comes and kisses my cheek and wipes away the tears with her own freshly wet hands.  We sit close, comforting each other with our silent fellowship. We know that those old labels, those hurtful words, no longer have any power. ‘ex-whore’ ‘ex-demon filled’ actually – now, child of God Our Father.  The Master’s words promise cleansing and healing and freedom.  I smile and still the tears come and they wash away the fear and the shame, but only because of Him. 

I hear his voice coming from the inner courts – clear, accented, authoritative.  He speaks of things lost and things found, of coming judgement and the end of all things.  I have been found, by Him – I was once lost in darkness; He has shone like a light which no darkness can extinguish.  In the coming days with Him at the fore I will fear no words of condemnation.  More tears, Mary draws closer her arm pressing into mine, we sit side my side, we listen, we wait – a new day will soon dawn; we will walk with Him, wherever it takes us.