In ancient Israel, just as today, religious and political leaders often let their people down. Greed, corruption, lust for power, and cruelty were all pitfalls along the way. In our own day, many have been shaken by corruption and failure within the Church. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God promised that there would come a day when the people would be given shepherds after God's own heart. This would mean shepherds that were just, compassionate and merciful, wise, and incorruptible. That is a tall order, and not many have been able to live up to those expectations. The main point of the message is not to lose heart. God is always with us, and God promised to transform the hearts of the people and to give them good shepherds. Ultimately, God is the shepherd, and in the Gospels, Jesus went out of his way to point to himself as the long-expected Good Shepherd.

The message that Jesus gave to Mary Magdalene to carry to the others is simple but profound. Jesus was ascending to his God and Father, who was also our God and Father. Same God, same Father. That means that we are brothers and sisters of Jesus and of one another. If that is true, then how can we ever hate or mistreat another? How can we ever apply hateful labels to another? And if Jesus is our brother, how can we ever hesitate or be afraid to call upon him or to pour out our hearts? Mary Magdalene was truly, as she has been called, the apostle to the apostles.