Belonging in His presence

Once, a woman came to the soup kitchen for the first time. She cursed at it. Not because she was angry, per se, but because she was so terribly embarrassed that she had fallen to the point where she had to go to this kitchen for her daily food. Another woman looked at her calmly and said, “Just come and sit down, dear; in a while, everything will be different!”

A few weeks later, I saw that cursing woman again. But now...she was different: all smiles and friends with everyone! As it turned out, the soup kitchen had not only given her food, but also a warm community. And that made all the difference! Fortunately, we don't see Mary Magdalene swearing anywhere, but I can just imagine that her turnaround—after Jesus and His disciples took her in—must have been much the same.

Just as the woman in the soup kitchen changed from being a lump of annoyance and shame into a gentle person in the presence of her new friends, so too Mary Magdalene changed in the presence of Jesus. This was, in fact, her superpower: staying close to Jesus at all times. The Bible highlights how Mary Magdalene followed Jesus faithfully, even to the cross. While many fled, Mary Magdalene remained, standing near the one who had given her new life. Her loyalty wasn’t just rooted in gratitude; it was grounded in a deep sense of belonging. She knew that with Jesus, she was home.

Take a moment today to reflect on where you find your sense of belonging. Are you still carrying the weight of past labels, or are you longing for a new place in a new circle of loved ones?

What would it take for you to have that feeling of belonging (again)? What would it take for you to let Jesus invite you in?