The Feast of Mary Magdalene and Women's Showers at Manna House

Today is the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, faithful companion and disciple of Jesus even to the foot of the cross, first to see the resurrected Jesus, apostle to the apostles.  It was also “women’s shower day” at Manna House, as it is every Tuesday morning.  There is much to ponder in the coming together of this feast day and women’s shower day.
Early on, male interpreters of the New Testament identified Mary Magdalene as a prostitute, the one who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears.  They did this with no textual support, but rather with their patriarchal division of women into three groups:  virgins, mothers, or whores.  An independent woman, like Mary Magdalene, apparently didn’t fit the categories of virgin or mother, so the male interpreters forced her into the whore category, even if “reformed” as a penitent sinner.  The Scripture itself is clear that she was one of the women who provided for Jesus and his disciples out of their resources (Luke 8:3).
On women’s shower day, men are not allowed to come into the “clothing room” where the women are choosing clothing that they will change into after their showers.  So, instead of the usual “socks and hygiene” we simply pass out “socks and soap” to all of our guests while they relax in the backyard.  This way the women not only have more privacy, but as we have found, they are also free from any influence from a dominating man as they choose their clothes.
Mary Magdalene was a person who knew suffering.  She was identified as one “from whom seven demons had gone out” (Luke 8:2), an indication of possible physical and/or mental illness.   In John’s Gospel and in Matthew’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross.  Unlike the male disciples, she did not abandon Jesus as he was condemned and executed.  She was also the first person to see the resurrected Jesus.  She is the first witness to and preacher of the resurrection!
Women on the streets face the results of patriarchy in violence, oppression, and exploitation.  Rape, prostitution, and other forms of violence against women are common enough for those women who find themselves homeless (and all too often such violence was the precipitating event that led to homelessness).   And along with such violence, there are a number of the women guests who come who have suffered or continue to suffer from mental or physical illness.
The women who come for showers at Manna House each Tuesday have definitely known suffering.  They are often the most vulnerable people we serve all week.  This vulnerability, however, should not be taken to mean that they are not powerful women.  They are resilient and they are survivors.  They continue on in the face of tremendous odds against them.
The women who shower at Manna House have been to the cross; they have suffered from the sins of patriarchy, the sins of a society that does not value women as much as men.  Yet, their spirit is unbroken.  To listen in on their conversations as they choose clothing and prepare for their showers is to know their dignity, their refusal to be defined by the injustices and harms in their lives.  When they emerge with fresh clothes, they stand with their dignity affirmed and more clearly visible.  They witness to resurrection.  Alleluia!!