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Putting ourselves in Martha Mary and Jesus shoes Luke 10 38 42

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For more commentary on this week's readings, see the Reflections on the Lectionary page. For full-text access to all articles, subscribe to the Century.

In last week’s post I talked about the practice of asking “Who am I in this story?” It’s a way of trying to hear a story with a beginner’s mind.

Conversion of the Magdalene by Artemisia Gentileschi 1593 1652 53

Artemisia Gentileschi is the most famous female artist of the Italian Baroque period. Her Conversion of the Magdalene was likely executed in Florence in 1615–16. In post-Tridentine theology, Mary Magdalene was an exemplar of the penitent sinner. Artemisia captures a delicate balance between the Magdalene’s sensuality and her faith through both her attire and the gesture of clutching her breast.