'The Man in Black' : Making Your Mess Your Message
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I remember when I was young, I loved to watch Cecil B. DeMille’s Ten Commandments. It left such a deep impression on me that whenever I heard the name Moses, I would immediately think of Charlton Heston. In addition, if I ever thought about any Egyptian pharaoh, Yul Brenner would pop into my mind declaring, “So let it be written, so let it be done”.
Similarly, for millions of The Chosen fans, when ever the name Mary Magdalene comes up, the Elizabeth Tabish performance will most surely surface. Elizabeth Tabish will be permanently stamped into their collective psyche. Her look, personality and her voice echoing memorable lines, will spark their memories and activate their imaginations.
For them, as for me, The Chosen version of Saint Mary Magdalene is the only one that stands out and rightfully so. Tabish, who was raised Catholic, does a beautiful job of bringing St. Mary Magdalene to the screen. The writers of the hit series have given her a major role and all the best lines.
The entire series of the Chosen begins with telling her back story. It's in the very end of the first episode that we meet Jesus as he enters Mary’s world and changes her life.
Jesus calls her by name, “Mary! Mary of Magdala". She turns around, dropping a jar, astonished and caught off guard. He then says, “Thus says the Lord, who created you … and He who formed you. Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine". He embraces her and heals her from her sordid past.
Later in the series, Mary goes on to tell Nicodemus the Good News, “I was one way and now I’m completely different. And the thing that happened in between was Him". When Nicodemus asks her to arrange a meeting between him and Jesus, she says, “I follow him, not the other way around".
Eventually, like me and most other sinners, she has a relapse and falls back into sin. She captures the feeling of guilt and shame of the sinner who already knows Jesus and who has once again let him down. "He already fixed me once, and I broke again. I can't face Him". In an act of surrender, she goes on to say, “I do have faith in Him, but not in me".
When she returns to the Apostles; camp, Mary the Mother of Jesus greets her with a hug and covers her head with her veil as if to gently encourage her to be modest. In a very Catholic scene, it is Mother Mary who takes the sinner back to Jesus for what turns out to be a kind of Sacrament of Confession scene. Mary stays with her in the tent (Confessional).
Mother Mary takes her in to see Jesus. Jesus said, "It's good to have you back." Mary looks down and replies, "I don't know what to say." He says kindly, "I don't require much." Mary says, "I'm so ashamed. You redeemed me and I just threw it all away." He says, "It's not much of a redemption if it can be lost in a day, is it?"
Mary says, "I owe You everything, but I just don't think I can do it." Jesus tells her, "I just want your heart. The Father just wants your heart. Give Us that, which you already have, and the rest will come in time. Did you really think you'd never struggle or sin again?" "I shouldn't", says Mary. Jesus says, "Someday, but not here". Mary, weeping, avoids eye contact and repeats that she is sorry. Jesus asks her to look up at Him, which she does slowly. He says, "I forgive you. It's over".
At the Wedding at Cana, Mary is talking with the Apostles and they adjust their language because a lady is present. While she appreciates their brotherly concern for her, she reminds them of her sketchy past by saying, “I have seen and heard things that would turn your blood to ice".
When comforting Matthew who is down on himself for failing in sin, Mary Magdalene makes a memorable statement about the power of grace and our dependence on it, “I don’t think he’s waiting for us to be holy. I think he’s here because we can’t be holy without him".
Saint Mary Magdalene,
woman of many sins, who by conversion
became the beloved of Jesus,
thank you for your witness
that Jesus forgives
through the miracle of love.
You, who already possess eternal happiness
in His glorious presence,
please intercede for me, so that some day
I may share in the same everlasting joy. Amen.
I am a life-long Catholic, husband, dad, teacher and former football coach. I've been teaching the Catholic Faith to young men, religious educators and catechists since 1998. My academic background, MA is in Theology and Catechetics. Email: gary@apexcatechetics.com
