At the Feet of Jesus

It’s the Monday of Holy Week! Hooray!

Today’s gospel features St. Mary Magdalene in a key role! Check it out:

This is actually a common role for Mary Magdalene to be in… at the feet of Jesus. She is famous for sitting at Christ’s feet and listening to His words while Martha toiled away — much to Martha’s annoyance. When Lazarus died, she threw herself at Christ’s feet and declared that, were Jesus there, Lazarus, her brother, wouldn’t have died. And now here, at this gospel, she anoints His feet with perfume and dries them with her hair — a fact that the greedy Judas (whom we will talk about later on Spy Wednesday!) cannot tolerate.

So, Mary Magdalene is indeed associated with the feet of Jesus!

Yet, while there is artwork of all of these cases, the most common artwork of Mary Magdalene at the feet of Jesus?

Her at the cross.

There are several of those pictures, including this one and this one that I’ve already featured! But there are many, many more out there. Here is one such picture:

In the background of this picture, there is chaos — two disciples of Jesus, presumedly, seem to rush off while taking a last glance at Jesus. Soldiers march away. The sky is eerie and strangely colorful and the sun is being eclipsed by the moon. It is an eerie scene, overall!

But that doesn’t matter for the people in the foreground –Mary, the mother of Jesus, John, the beloved disciple, and Mary Magdalene. While the chaos of the world goes on behind them, their eyes are focused on Jesus.

And Mary Magdalene, once more is seen adoring and kissing the feet of Jesus.

 

Dear Jesus,

May we imitate St. Mary Magdalene and adore You, even when and especially when our lives are filled with chaos. May we never forget to love You!

Amen.

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This picture is featured in my book, The Sorrowful Mysteries, which pairs artwork of the Sorrowful Mysteries with the prayers of the Rosary. To take a look and buy it, click here!