Called by Name: Learning to Love Like Mary of Magdala

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene

1 Corinthians 13 describes a love that is patient, kind, enduring, and rooted in truth. As I prayed with this passage today, I also reflected on the life of Mary Magdalene, whose feast we celebrate. She is remembered as the first witness to the resurrection and a faithful follower of Jesus throughout his ministry. Her life gives us a living example of the love Paul describes. Mary did not just believe in Jesus; she loved him completely.

Mary’s love for Jesus was marked by deep devotion and unwavering presence. She followed him in life, stayed near him in death, and stood at the tomb before dawn. When others fled in fear or despair, she stayed close. This kind of love does not flinch when things fall apart. Her love endured because it was rooted in faith.

I want to love Jesus the way Mary did. I want to love others with the same tenderness, courage, and consistency. I want my love to show up even when it is difficult or costly. Yet I recognize how often I fall short of that desire. I need help learning how to love like that.

Romans 7 reminds me that I am often my own obstacle. “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate.” I want to be patient, but I get short-tempered. I want to act with kindness, but I let frustration take the lead. I want to offer mercy, but I return to judgment. The struggle between spirit and flesh is real and constant.

Even in that struggle, God’s grace remains. Jesus does not wait for my perfection before calling my name. He meets me in confusion, contradiction, and need. He speaks peace and invites me back to love. His mercy draws me close even when I have wandered.

It is because of that grace that I do not want to sin. I do not want anything to separate me from the love I have come to know. The more I receive that mercy, the more I love Jesus in return. Love becomes a response to grace, not a reward for good behavior. Grace teaches me how to love again.

So I pray: Lord Jesus, teach me to love as Mary did. Give me her faith, her devotion, and her courage. Let my life reflect the same enduring love that bore witness to your resurrection. When I am tired or afraid, help me stay near. Call me by name and lead me into love.

What might it look like for you to love Jesus with the devotion of Mary Magdalene? How can her witness shape the way you love others today?