Richard Kuns
Good morning
“… Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ…” (Philippians 1:2)
I sometimes struggle as I read the Daily Office because of the breadth of scripture offered each morning. Today is one of those days! I am torn between Mark’s memory of Mary Magdalene coming to the tomb before dawn to anoint Jesus body in accordance with Torah instructions and Paul’s joyful letter from prison to the church in Philippi.
My solution is to write about a theme that is common to both. Jesus first resurrection appearance is to Mary Magdalene, who becomes the “apostle to the apostles” and to the first convert to The Way in Europe, Lydia, the seller of purple. These two women are key to the birth of the Church.
Mary Magdalene’s name appears 12 times in the gospels. (Luke 8:2, 24:10; Matthew 27:56, 61, 28:1; Mark 15:40, 47, 16:1, 6, 16:9; John 19:25, 20:1, 18). We are now so familiar with the story of Jesus, his crucifixion and resurrection that we overlook that Mary Magdalene was chosen first to see and speak to the resurrected Christ. But if you were not familiar with the resurrection story and asked to write a script for a stage play set in a patriarchal society, you would first think of Peter, James, or John. They were the three men Jesus selected from the 12 disciples to witness the Transfiguration and were asked to wait with Jesus while he prayed on the Mount of Olives before his betrayal. A woman who was known to be a mentally disturbed person before encountering Jesus would never come to your mind. (Luke 8:2)
No! It was the voice of Mary Magdalene, a woman, that carried the Good News to the frightened men. “…Mary Magdalene came, announcing to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and that He had said these things…” (John 18:20:18, NASB).
The church at Philippi was pure joy to Paul as he languished in prison because of the gospel. “…Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God. Whenever I pray, I make my requests for all of you with joy, for you have been my partners in spreading the Good News about Christ from the time you first heard it until now. And I am certain that God, who began the good work with you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns…” (Philippians 1:3-6, NLT)
The background of the church in Philippi is recorded in Acts 16:11-40. Paul has a night vision of a man calling him to “come over to Macedonia and help us.” (Acts 16:10). Paul and Silas go to Philippi, a Greek city serving as a military outpost for Rome. Paul seeks out a Jewish community known to gather on the banks of a river within a Sabbath day’s walk from Philippi for prayer.
Paul began a conversation with the women gathered there and soon met Lydia, a wealthy woman, who was a dealer in expensive purple cloth and owned her own home. …The Lord opened her heart to listen eagerly what was said by Paul. When she and her household were baptized, she urged us saying, “If you have judged me to be faithful to the Lord, come and stay at my home.” And she prevailed upon us… (Acts 16:14-15)
Lydia not only proclaimed her faith through baptism but also put that faith into fruitful action by offering hospitality. As we noted last Tuesday a living faith is actively fruitful.
Later when Paul and Silas get into trouble for curing a slave girl of her demons and thrown into prison, Lydia welcomes them back into her home upon their release. It is in her home that Paul encourages the new Christian community. Apparently, Lydia has started a house church in her own home. …After leaving the prison they went to Lydia’s home; and when they had seen and encouraged the brothers and sisters there, they departed. (Acts 16:40) Lydia is an active partner with Paul and Silas in proclaiming the gospel.
One might say that first encounter of the risen Lord with Mary Magdalene early Sunday morning in Jerusalem was like a stone dropped into a large pool of water. In Acts 16 and the epistle of Philippians we catch a glimpse of how that ripple effect is impacts the first Christian church in Europe amongst Greek speaking gentiles. Mary Magdalene’s encounter impacted the disciples, Paul, Silas, and now Lydia who welcomed early Christians into her home.
And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water, that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither -- and in all he does he prospers. (Psalm 1:3, Robert Alter). Strike the pronoun “he” and substitute your name and pray how you might become a person who is fruitful like “a tree planted by streams of water.” A nourished, living faith is actively fruitful.
Shalom, Richard Kuns