Abstract
The modern world is experiencing a deep hunger for authentic love. Despite technological advancement, economic growth, and increased social interaction, many people remain emotionally, spiritually, and morally empty. This hunger is especially evident in societies where selfishness, corruption, injustice, and exploitation have become common ways of life.
The annual Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, celebrated on 22 July, offers one of the most profound biblical reflections on authentic love, faithful discipleship, and the transformative power of an encounter with the Risen Christ. Through the liturgical readings—Song of Songs 3:1–4, Psalm 63:2–8, and John 20:1–18—the Church presents Mary Magdalene as a model of a heart consumed by an unwavering longing for God. Her relentless search for the One she loved culminates not in disappointment, but in the life-changing encounter with the Risen Lord, who calls her by name and commissions her as the first witness of the Resurrection. This article reflects on these biblical texts within the Kenyan context, where political hypocrisy, economic exploitation, institutional corruption, and religious commercialization often overshadow the Gospel. It argues that only Christ-centered love can restore truth, justice, and human dignity.
Introduction
Every human being desires to be loved and to love in return. This desire is written into the human heart because God Himself is Love (1 John 4:8). Yet today’s world is filled with loneliness, betrayal, violence, and greed. Many people pursue wealth, power, pleasure, and influence hoping to satisfy their hearts, only to discover that these cannot replace genuine love.
The Kenyan society reflects this global crisis in unique ways. Corruption weakens public institutions. Businesses sometimes prioritize profit over human dignity, exploiting workers and customers alike. Political leadership often becomes characterized by empty promises, tribal interests, and manipulation instead of servant leadership. Some churches risk becoming personality-centered rather than Christ-centered, emphasizing the fame of religious leaders over the Gospel itself. Civil servants may compromise truth to protect political interests rather than serve the common good.
Against this background, the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene presents a different vision. Mary teaches that true fulfillment is found not in power, wealth, or influence, but in encountering the Love of Risen Lord.
The Human Heart Hungers for Authentic Love
Reading from Song of Songs 3:1–4 describes a woman searching throughout the night for her beloved: “I sought him whom my soul loves.” This is more than romantic poetry. Throughout Christian tradition, the beloved symbolizes God, while the searching soul represents humanity longing for communion with Him. St. Augustine famously wrote: “You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in You.” (Confessions I.1). Human beings naturally seek happiness. Unfortunately, many search in the wrong places.
Today people seek satisfaction through:
- Money without honesty
- Power without service
- Success without integrity
- Relationships without commitment
- Religion without conversion
These pursuits cannot satisfy the deepest hunger of the soul.
Psalm 63 beautifully expresses this longing: “For you my soul is thirsting.” This thirst is ultimately a thirst for God.
Mary Magdalene: A Woman Who Refused to Stop Searching
The Gospel (John 20:1–18) portrays Mary Magdalene arriving at the empty tomb while it was still dark. She did not abandon Jesus after His crucifixion.
- She searched.
- She wept.
- She waited.
- She listened.
Finally, the Risen Christ called her by name: “Mary.” Everything changed the moment she recognized His voice.
Pope Benedict XVI observed: “Christianity is not the result of an ethical choice or a lofty idea, but the encounter with an event, a person.” (Deus Caritas Est, no. 1). Mary Magdalene encountered a Person, not merely a doctrine.
Her sorrow became joy.
Her confusion became mission.
Her tears became hope.
She became the first witness of the Resurrection.
Kenyan’s Hunger for Love
The biblical story speaks powerfully to contemporary Kenya. Many citizens thirst for leaders who genuinely care, but instead, they often experience systems that reward selfishness rather than service.
a) Corruption: Love Replaced by Self-interest
Corruption is fundamentally the absence of love. When public resources intended for hospitals, schools, roads, or water projects are stolen, it is not merely financial crime. It is violence against the poor. Pope Francis teaches: “Corruption is a process of death.” (Gaudete et Exsultate, no. 164). True love seeks the common good for all while corruption seeks only personal gain.
b) Business without Humanity
Business exists to create value and improve human life. However, when profit becomes the only goal, workers become tools instead of human persons. Consumers become targets rather than neighbors who are needed again and again. Prices become instruments of exploitation, rather than payments of goods and services. Pope Leo XIII, in Rerum Novarum, reminds society that economic activity must always respect the dignity of workers. The economy should serve humanity—not the reverse.
Imagine!
People selling meat of dead animals for consumers
People selling colored soil as fertilizers for farmers
People selling papers for academic excellence
People selling mercury as sugar for consumers … You can add many others
We need to express True Love
c) Politics without Truth
Politics is a noble vocation when it seeks justice. Unfortunately, politics can become an arena of deception especially when promises are made only to win elections.
Citizens are divided by ethnicity, and they are made to believe they are different. Truth becomes secondary to political survival. Pope Francis reminds political leaders that authentic politics is one of the highest forms of charity because it seeks the common good (Fratelli Tutti, no. 180).
A nation cannot prosper when leadership is built upon lies.
d) Churches without Christ
One of today’s greatest spiritual dangers is transforming Christianity into personality-centered religion. When churches become centered on individual pastors, founders, celebrities, or material prosperity, Christ gradually disappears from the center.
Mary Magdalene teaches the opposite. She did not proclaim herself.
She proclaimed:
“I have seen the Lord.”
Every authentic Christian ministry should point people toward Christ rather than toward human personalities.
Saved Christians who:
- Sell and buy Miracles.
- Pastors who fight for numbers and locality, focused on offerings
- Christian who build church halls/Chapels first, instead of their hearts
- Preaching prosperity instead of Salvation
- Christian who desire Drama instead of Worship
Where is Love in Your Heart
As St. Paul reminds believers: “We proclaim not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord.” (2 Corinthians 4:5)
e) Civil Service without Integrity
Civil servants are entrusted with serving citizens. When fear, political loyalty, or personal interest replaces professional ethics, public institutions lose credibility.
Truth becomes hidden.
Justice becomes delayed.
Citizens lose confidence in government.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church teaches that political authority must always serve the common good and respect human dignity (CCC 1905–1912).
We desire love from all the Civil servants, You have an opportunity to serve Christ in your Capacity as a Civil servant.
Love That Begins with Encountering Christ
Mary Magdalene teaches that social transformation begins with personal conversion. She first encountered Christ and only then could she proclaim Him.
Many reform programs fail because they attempt to change systems without changing hearts.
- The Resurrection changes hearts.
- Changed hearts change families.
- Changed families change communities.
- Changed communities change nations.
As Pope Benedict XVI explains: “Love grows through love.” (Deus Caritas Est, no. 18)
Authentic love is contagious.
LOVE!!! … Start it yourself
Becoming Modern Mary ‘Magdalenes’
Every Christian is called to imitate Mary Magdalene.
Like her, we are invited to:
- Search sincerely for Christ.
- Listen carefully to His voice.
- Remain faithful even during suffering.
- Speak the truth with courage.
- Become witnesses of hope.
- Love without selfishness.
- Defend justice without fear.
Kenya needs Christians who witness through integrity rather than slogans.
The country needs leaders whose decisions are guided by conscience rather than convenience.
Businesses need entrepreneurs who value people more than profits.
Churches need disciples who proclaim Christ rather than personalities.
Families need parents who teach love by example.
Young people need hope grounded in truth rather than empty promises.
Children needs to experience authentic Love to Grow in Love
This can be done if it begins with you!!!
Conclusion
The Feast of St. Mary Magdalene reminds the world that every human heart hungers for authentic love. That hunger cannot be satisfied by wealth, political power, fame, or religious prestige. Only an encounter with the Risen Christ satisfies the deepest thirst of the human soul.
The cry of Psalm 63 remains the cry of modern Kenya:
“My soul thirsts for you.”
When society replaces love with greed, service with selfishness, truth with propaganda, and Christ with personalities, it loses its moral compass. Yet Mary Magdalene shows that there is always hope. She searched faithfully until she found the Risen Lord, and her encounter transformed her into the first messenger of Easter.
If Kenya is to overcome corruption, exploitation, political dishonesty, and moral decline, renewal must begin with hearts converted by Christ’s love. Only people who have truly encountered the Risen Lord can build families, churches, businesses, and public institutions founded on justice, truth, compassion, and selfless service. The world is indeed hungry for love, and that love has a name: Jesus Christ.
THANK YOU FOR READING, You can start Loving
Rev. Fr. Francis Kamau Wamaria
References
- Confessions. Translated by Henry Chadwick. Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1991.
- Benedict XVI. Deus Caritas Est. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2005.
- Catechism of the Catholic Church. 2nd ed. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 1997.
- Fratelli Tutti. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2020.
- Gaudete et Exsultate. Vatican City: Libreria Editrice Vaticana, 2018.
- Leo XIII. Rerum Novarum. Vatican City, 1891.
- Sacred Scripture. The Jerusalem Bible. Darton, Longman & Todd, 1966.
- Second Vatican Council. Gaudium et Spes. Vatican City, 1965.
