Who Was This Woman Mary?

Hollywood and the whole of the entertainment industry has always been given certain creative licensing. They are masters at weave shimmering threads of speculation into an otherwise gray tapestry of fact.

I want to explore the life of Mary Magdalene for a moment. We’ve seen more of her lately thanks to Dallas Jenkins and his epic The Chosen. I know people who have been turned off by the way the apostles and early followers are portrayed. They feel it’s a casting error and can’t seem to get around the images in their minds. But the reality is earlier images in film and art aren’t actuate. The apostles were not old men. They were young. Jesus was only 33 when He was crucified. John the Baptist was just 6 months His senior. Simon Peter was probably the oldest among the Apostles since he was already married. The fact that he worked as a fisherman tells you that he was physical fit, not an old man by any means. Among the Apostle, Saint John was likely the youngest of the twelve. As a frightened boy, he stayed with the women at the foot of the cross rather than go into hiding with the men. Saint John was probably a teenager at the time. Life, on the other had, was not easy back then. So someone in their 20s might appear older than their years. I don’t have a problem with the casting of the Chosen. If anything, I think it’s the best yet. But that’s just my unscholarly opinion.

What I do like most about The Chosen is that while the stories are familiar, the view is from those closest to Christ. It is their reaction, their understanding, their perspective of Jesus that we get to see. When I think of Mary Magdalene, I often remember the scene from the Chosen between Mary and Nicodemus. He asks her to explain the visible change in her once the demons had been driven out. Her answer is perfect. “Here’s what I can tell you; I was one way. And now I am completely different.” This is how we should all feel once we have allowed Christ to touch our lives – forever changed from the inside out.

As a Catholic, I have come to accept certain truths that some people are uncomfortable with or deny. What scripture tells us about Mary Magdalene is that she was possessed by demons. I personally think we can take that as fact. Not because it’s in the Bible and therefore must be true, but because demons are real. Today we dismiss the idea of demons as fabrication of a disturbed mind. That is a grave mistake.

What is not found in scripture is what the seven demons made her do, how they tortured her. It’s not hard to imagine that she appeared outwardly mad – crazy – off balance and even a bit tainted by moral standards. There are those who labeled her a prostitute. While there is no clear evidence of this, it would not be far fetched to see a woman suffering as she was to self-medicate. This could have been drinking, the use of drugs, even patronizing places a descent woman would not in order to drown out what was happening in her head. Demons walk among us. They whisper to that dark side of ourselves. And if we listen, we can invite them in.

Or we can say I was one way. And now I am completely different. It’s up to us. Think about it on this the Feast Day of Mary Magdalene. Remember too that accepting Jesus does not mean we cannot slip and fall back into old, familiar ways. Just know He is always there, waiting with forgiveness and redemption and open arms.

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While I was searching for a recipe to share with you today, I remembered some pictures I had snapped a few months back and then did nothing with. Call me a twisted puppy, but today’s subject matter made me remember the Diablo Chicken Taquitos. Our market had them on special, and I thought why not bring a little more heat to my Alfredo Taquitos? Wow – these were really good.

Smothered Diablo Chicken Taquitos
1 (18 count) box Diablo Chicken Taquitos
2 small Hot Red Peppers
1 lb Chorizo
1 (15 oz) jar Alfredo Sauce
1/2 cup Mexican Cheese Blend

Heat oven to 400 degrees. While the oven warms, lay the frozen Taquitos out in a casserole dish. Dice the peppers, set aside.

In a cast iron skillet, brown the chorizo meat. Break meat apart as it cooks. Drain well of excess grease. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add Alfredo sauce and diced peppers to the skillet. Sprinkle shredded cheese around the rim, then slowly incorporate everything to create a silky smooth sauce.

Pour sauce over the Taquitos. Cover with foil, place in the heated oven to bake for 15 minutes. Uncover, bake for another 5 minutes.

Remove from oven, serve with refried beans and plenty of margaritas for a dinner that is quick, easy and brings on the heat.

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O God, You are my God whom I seek;
for You my flesh pines and my soul thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water