In many ways, Mary Magdalen can be called a Beloved Disciple. No one shows a stronger love for Jesus than this woman who had been liberated from a seriously sinful life. She was there with Jesus' Mother and some other women at the foot of the cross keeping vigil, while not one of the men disciples was to be seen. After Jesus was buried, she kept vigil by his tomb. Early on Sunday morning, she was there again when the tomb was discovered to be empty. After the visit of Peter and the Beloved Disciple, she alone stayed on to mourn. In John's gospel, she is the very first person to whom the Risen Jesus reveals Himself. And she is the very first of His followers to announce the Resurrection of the Lord.

This gives her a unique place in the Gospel story. The First Reading from the Song of Songs expresses the lover's distress at the loss of the one she loves and then her joy at finding him. "I sought him whom my heart loves but I did not find him ...... The watchmen came upon me ...... Have you seen him whom my heart loves?" Just then, she comes across him: "I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. I took hold of him and would not let him go ...... " But she had to let her Lover go and find him in new situations - just as we do.