Shakti – The Subtle Power
4. Mary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was in deep anguish…. It was as if her entire self was shattered into millions of pieces which could never come back together again. Their saviour, their Lord had been brutally crucified just two days back. For her, witnessing this gruesome end, was worse than her own crucifixion. And she would probably suffer the same pain every remaining day of her life. She was not sure there was any meaning left to her life. It was as if the whole world was overshadowed by this most terrible gloom.
She was slowly and painfully retracing her steps to be where she had last seen her Master. “Where are you going Mary?”
She stood stand still like a rock, shell shocked! Did she really hear the voice of her Lord or was it an imagination…. She slowly turned towards the voice, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and anticipation. There, some distance away, she saw clearly her Lord. Radiant, whole and a picture of perfect health. She rushed towards him. “Rabbi!!!”
“Do not approach me! Do not touch me, for I have not yet ascended to my Father.” She fell on her knees. Sobbing loudly, tears gushed out in torrents. All the pain she had experienced in the past few days was gushing out of her eyes. His soothing voice was like balm on her wounds. “Mary, do you see now? They only had the body, my true self is unharmed! Go spread the good news, for I shall live till the end of time in my Father’s kingdom. And anyone who approaches me with a sincere heart would be saved.”
“My Lord! Glory be to you!! Glory be to you!!” Mary cried out. “Tell me Rabbi, what is the way for me?”
“Follow the way shown by me. Hold God your Lord above everyone else and love and serve your neighbours as you would your own. Remember Mary…. Face the world with resilience. Your abode is in the kingdom of God, this is just a transit. Go, hurry! Tell everyone the good news! Tell them not to grieve. I have awakened to eternal life.”
She tore her eyes away from him and rushed away. She turned to look at him once more, but he was not to be seen. She knew she did not imagine this. He looked more real, his voice more clear than anything else she had ever witnessed.
She ran….. stumbling along her way. She reached the village and collapsed. “I saw him! I saw him!” People gathered all around her. “Whom did you see?” Came one voice. “What is it, Mary?” Came another.
“ I saw our master, our Lord, the Rabbi!! He is back!!” She said breathlessly. The whole crowd erupted with excitement…
“Rabbi is back!”
“I knew he is the Christ!! He is our redeemer, our saviour!!”
“Praise be unto him…”
“Where is he now?”
Mary replied, her face still wet with tears: “He asked me to spread the good news that he is living. He said he will be ascending to his father’s kingdom and will live until the last day.”
And then some vicious tones were heard:
“How is it that only she saw him? Of all the apostles, why did he choose her to show himself? She is lying, without a doubt.”
“Yes, she can’t be trusted. She was afflicted with seven demons.”
“Who knows of her character, she was never married. Always following the Master for God alone knows what reason.”
“Vicious witch she is, trying to look all pious and modest!”
Another voice said: “Where were all the apostles when the Master was undergoing all the pain? Not one of them were with him during his suffering and crucifixion. Mary never left his side. She is pure, that’s why she is fearless. And that’s why he showed himself to her.”
The crowd was erupting with mixed emotions. Tussles were turning into blows. Someone held on tight to her and rescued her from the scene. She was too overwhelmed to say anything more.. she kept on moving with a group of people shielding and holding her.. The shouts were slowly becoming indistinct and in her head a faint voice was becoming louder and clearer: “Remember Mary…. Face the world with resilience. Your abode is in the kingdom of God, this is just a transit.”
Mary fled from the village, but she followed the path showed by her Lord. All who came in touch with her basked in the light of her saintly love and knowledge.
Kritisanchay 