Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and to your Father. To my God and your God.’  Those words spoken to Mary Magdalene, by our Lord, have served as a clarion call for women in ministry everywhere who, like Mary before us, have heard Jesus’ words to go and tell. Further, Jesus enjoins Himself to Mary, and to us. We are invited to conceive of Christ as ‘sibling’, acknowledging Our Father and Our God. There could be nothing more impartial than God made flesh enjoining God’s self to this particular preacher.

On May 19th 2024, in an interview with Norah O’Donnell on the CBS News show “60 Minutes”, Pope Francis uttered a definitive “no” to the question of the restoration of women to diaconal ministry in the Roman Catholic Church. That one word held the power to continue to imprison the vocational calls of women across the globe, perhaps for centuries to come. It had the potential to silence their most potent avenue to preach in the Church for generations. It undermined the culture of synodality that is irrefutably one of the largest parts of Francis’ papal legacy. It also broke the hearts of Catholic women everywhere who had come to trust Francis.

With the opening of Pope Francis’ “Synod on Synodality”, these women, for the first time in the Church's history, were invited to speak the words shared with them by God about their vocational calls. They may even have finally felt heard, seen, and believed. They may have dared to hope their daughters would inherit a Church who, at long last, was beginning to hear the voice of Christ resonating in the words of a woman. A Church like the one that is being born in today’s Gospel. A Church where a woman is empowered and given authority to preach the Good News to her brothers and sisters in Christ; whose benefit it would be to find her credible. A Church where both men and women were made in and capable of bearing God’s image.

Pope Francis’ ‘no’ had the power to annihilate that much hope.  

For countless generations women have persevered in responding to Christ’s command to ‘go and tell’. Their response at times was a heavy load to bear, living simultaneously in obedience to Our Lord and in tension with what was currently available to them in the Church. Their souls perhaps tempted, like our psalmist David, abandoned in the wilderness by his family, thirsting, living out a sort of fraction of God’s call. At times feeling parched without water, not assisted by the undeniable power of sacramental grace. Like any person not living as St. Irenaeus reminds us, as most pleasing to God, ‘fully alive’.  

I read recently that in the Gospels Jesus was asked 187 Questions. He directly answers 8 of them. Christ Himself asks 307. So perhaps if the Lord of the Universe existed in a place where complexity was welcome, and certainty a rarity, we might continue to hone our skills of comfort in ambiguity. While holding fast to the absolute truth of Christ’s resurrection, we might also boldly ask some big questions. And on this Feast Day of St. Mary Magdalene starting with-  “Why Lord? Why a woman if you didn’t intend them to continue to proclaim the Gospel and offer their gifts of preaching to the world?”

Pope Francis continues to invite us to return to the ancient tradition of Synodality, which fosters the idea that ambiguity, unanswered questions, and even tension can forge a deeper understanding of where the Spirit is leading the Church.  Of course Christ knew that although He chose Mary to be the first witness to the most pivotal moment in history her witness would be called an ‘idol tale’. He knew she would be marginalized and cast aside.

Perhaps however, there was no disciple like her, who was listening. Deeply listening. Listening when he foretold the resurrection on the third day. Listening to her unique call by Christ Himself. Fearlessly preserving despite ruthless criticism. Staving off desolation at not being believed. Begging for solidarity from the apostles, in order to offer a more complete picture of the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice. Offering a gift of self. And still listening to the Spirit….

Perhaps she was chosen because she was willing to drag his lifeless body anywhere in reverence and love for him. Even at great personal cost. Even if some of His followers were terrified of even entering the tomb. And maybe she was chosen because she would simply persevere in telling.

For women called to Preach in the Roman Catholic Church, we are reminded year after year on this feast day of Mary’s profound courage. We must apply her courage to our own lives and continue to respond to Christ’s calls of our very own names. We need Mary’s bravery to not deny Christ’s voice. It is real. He is here. He is alive. He is speaking to us. And we’ve got to tell everyone!