Today is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene. Years ago I wrote a novel about Jesus from Nicodemus's point of view; here's an excerpt from it featuring our saint of the day. Disclaimer: I know next to nothing about 1st century Judea, so I can only imagine this is ridiculously anachronistic.
I can sense, when I come back to Joseph's circle, that some think I am taking this too seriously. "It's fine if others want to meet Jesus," they say, but I can see in their faces they don't mean it. Only the crazy ones, the ones who have no lives of their own, would seek out the preacher instead of just mulling over his words.
I bring it up to Gamaliel, of all people--not because I think he'd be sympathetic, but he's the wisest man I know. "I don't want to just follow Jesus around from a distance. That tells me nothing about what he and his followers are really like. I wish there was some way I could spend some time among them, but they seem to be a closed circle." Plus, as a member of the Sanhedrin I have to be careful about my associations, but I don't need to mention this to Gamaliel.
He doesn't look up from his scroll. He just says casually, "Do you know who's with them? Your friend from Magdala."
"Mary's son?"
"No."
It can't be. "Mary?"
"She has found a new charity."
"But...what about her...?"
"Maybe you should try to see her yourself."
