Open Reflections

In the biblical revelation, the idea of Mission is totally relative to the History of Salvation.

It presupposes a positive call of God that gets clearly manifested in each particular case.

It applies to groups as well as to individuals.

Jesus is the person sent by the Father par excellence.

His mission is extended through the sending of His own disciples, the Twelve, who for this very reason are called Apostles.

 (Greek: apostolos / apostle = sent—said of a person, apostolé=mission).

The Apostles and the preachers of the Gospel did not rely on their human strength alone, but completed their effort by the power of the Holy Spirit.

This is the significance of Pentecost:

The mission of the Spirit is the source of man’s sanctification and part of the Christian experience.

 

 Equal to the Apostles

Christ, who for our sake from a Virgin was born,

You followed Maria,

His rights and precepts keeping.

Therefore, today your holy memory we celebrate and

The absolution of our sins through your prayers obtain.

(From the Eastern Church)

The figure of Mary Magdalene has inspired artists of all time.

She is the woman who has been healed by Christ (from seven demons—Mk. 16, 9) and follows Him, with other women, in order to assist to the needs of the journeys of the Lord.

She is one of the Myrrh bearers who go to take care of the body of Jesus at the tomb “on the first day of the week very early” (Lk. 24, 1).She is the first witness of the Resurrection and the first who brings the Good News to the Apostles. (John, 29, 18).

According to a tradition she traveled as far as Marseille (France) and became the first apostle of the Gospel there.

The Church honours her memory and calls her “Equal to the Apostles”.