Around 2 B.C., Mary Magdalene’s father says to Mary as a child: “What do we do when we are scared? We say the words … Adonai’s words from the prophet Isaiah: ‘Thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, and He who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”’”
Sadly, Mary's father dies when she is still young and we see scenes of her difficult life growing up. Luke 8:1-4 tells us that Mary eventually became possessed by seven demons. In this episode we hear those demons speaking through Mary as a young adult, going by a different name. They tell Nicodemus, a high-ranking Pharisee attempting to perform an exorcism: “You have no power here. We are not afraid of you.”
Nicodemus, trying to explain his failure to fellow Pharisees, reasons: “Only God Himself could have driven them out…. Souls such as hers are beyond all human aid.” He begins serious soul searching as he becomes increasingly aware of shallow religious faith inside him and around him.
Jesus, calling Mary of Magdala by name before healing her, tells her these meaningful words: “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.’”
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