You Belong!

What if your life was filled with horrific circumstances, suffering abuse and neglect and anger and hatred from all the people around you? What if your despair at the life you were unable to escape led you to commit acts just as terrible, in their own way, as those done to you? Today we might think of the child soldiers stolen from their families and forced to kill; or human trafficking all over the world (yes, in America too!) resulting in sexual slavery and a chain of horrifying abuse. Just how desperate would your life be? Probably no worse than Mary Magdalene's.

Luke tells us in chapter 8 "Soon afterward Jesus began a tour of the nearby towns and villages, preaching and announcing the Good News about the Kingdom of God. He took his twelve disciples with him, along with some women who had been cured of evil spirits and diseases. Among them were Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons." Now, demons don't just take over on their own. She must have been beaten down pretty badly, that they could influence her so much. But Jesus had healed her and cast the demons out, and she began to follow him.

Mary Magdalene was the first to see Jesus, in John's gospel, and mentioned by name as one of those at his tomb early on Resurrection morning in all four Gospels. Why do you think that was? I think the key is found in John 20. There, Mary remains at the tomb after Peter and John have left, and she meets someone she thinks is a caretaker of the property. Then he calls her by name: "Mary" in verse 16. In that instant she knew it was Jesus! What joy and wonder flooded her soul! You might consider some time in meditation, to put yourself in her shoes and imagine those same feelings.

Still, why did Jesus pick her out and call her by name? Because he loved her. Just like he loves you, and me. Not 'in spite of all she had done' -- that's a very poor view of God's love for every person who has ever lived, drawing us from our pain into his arms. Jesus called her by name to remind her that she mattered to him -- and to show every person who reads this story how much we matter to him. Not generically but individually. Not 'in spite of' but blasting right on through any reason we might think makes us unacceptable to him. (To clarify that point: God doesn't 'accept' our sin; Jesus died and was raised again to defeat all sin and all guilt forever. Sin no longer is an issue, no longer separates us from God, so it's no longer a consideration!)

God in Jesus called Mary Magdalene specifically, specially and particularly. He loved her and he loves you, specifically, specially and individually. You belong! Can you accept your belonging? It's true, and it will never change. You belong! Rest in that today, beloved child of God!