SUSTAINING YOUR DELIVERANCE: LEARNING FROM MARY MAGDALENE

“It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’…Meanwhile Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet.”

POINTS FOR REFLECTION
1. The ways Mary Magdalene sustained her deliverance is by CONSISTENT dwelling with Jesus and PERSISTENT searching for Jesus.

2. The Bible tells us that Mary Magdalene after her deliverance Consistently dwelt with Jesus by following Him together with other disciples (Lk 8:1-2). She Consistently dwelt with Jesus in Life and even in Death as she even went in search of him at the tomb! There’s something deep to learn here: who goes to exume or in search of the dead after burial? Only deep love can connect the living with the dead! Only deep love can make one go to the grave of a loved one to pray! You must love God in favourable and unfavourable times!

3. Mary Magdalene’s Persistent search for Jesus even after seeing the empty grave is worth examining. Do you remember what Jesus teaches us about Persistence? See Lk. 18:1-8, and in verse 8 Jesus says: “Listen to what the unjust judge says. And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them.”

4. Persistency involves continuous requests made to God in prayer without losing hope! She persisted and at first saw visions of angels! No, it’s not Angels she came to seek! She pressed on and found Jesus, even though not recognizing him and thinking he was a gardener, she still persisted untill the very “veil of doubts” obscuring her vision was torn “into two” when the One she sought calls her by name, then she found Him! (Cf. John 20:11-18). That name connected her to her destiny- the purpose of her existence and she recognized the one who have taught her that purpose: Jesus!

5. Are you set aback by your “frequent broken vows and falls”- going back to those former ways? Are you being manipulated by evil forces trying to gain entrance back into your life? Dont give up! Sustaining deliverance is not a one time affair but a life time events filled with battles! They will attack and fight you but, will not defeat you because God is with you will make you into a pillar against them (Jer.1:19). Even when it seems you are being defeated and you are sinking call on Jesus with faith and confidence and that stronghold against you will scatter! (Ps.68:1)

TASK: Hence stay connected to Jesus your strength in Prayer and you will succeed and be victorious. Stay with the Light Jesus offers and you will break through every barriers of doubts and fears! (Ps.18:28). Submit yourself to God always (even when you have sinned), Persist in himble prayers, and you will resist the devil and he will flee from you (James 4:7).

I pray for you: As you Pursue your deliverance Consistently and Pesistently I declare Ps. 144:1 over you: May the Lord be a rock shield against every attacks aimed at you. May He train your hands for the battles ahead of you and endow you with the strength to bend the heavy bows that come your way. Amen.

Remember: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved (Matt.24:13)

• Fr. SimOne Madu,OSJ