In the Christian scheme of things, the movement from the human condition to divine transformation requires the mediation of a personal relationship with God. The personal love of Jesus facilitates the growth of this relationship… The simple utterance of one word, “Mary!” brought to focus all [Mary Magdalene’s] longings…

The realization of being loved by God characterizes the first stage of contemplative prayer. It enables us to see God in all things. Mary’s acceptance of that grace leads to a further insight; she becomes aware that she loves Jesus in return. Accordingly, she throws herself into his arms and clings to him. … Through that experience she was raised to the next level of contemplative prayer, which is the capacity to see all things in God.

…. [Jesus] says “go tell my brothers that I ascend to my Father and to your Father”.

Those words are the manifesto of the New Creation! … The Abba has now been given to us! … The same relationship with the Father that Christ enjoys is rising up in Mary Magdalene- and in each of us as we assimilate the grace of Easter.

… Mary is sent to be the apostle of the apostles. What makes an apostle is divine love, nothing else. “You, my brothers,” Jesus says through her,” have been initiated into the reign of God, into my experience of the Father as Abba, the God of infinite compassion.”

Excerpts from The Mystery of Christ by Thomas Keating.