Stop holding on to me. Instead, go to my brothers and tell them that you have seen the Lord. The Gospel reading that has been given for today’s memorial is that which we read on Easter Tuesday. It is a passage that recounts the first appearance of the risen Lord in which the Lord commissions Mary Magdalene to bring the good news to the apostles. And from this commission by the Lord, Mary Magdalene has been rightly referred to as the apostle to the apostles. Was there a special reason why the Lord appeared to her and not to the other disciples? Maybe there is, maybe there isn’t. The gospel narrative mentions Mary Magdalene being freed of seven demons by the Lord (cf. Luke 8:2), and maybe the bond that this redemption occasioned in the two was deeper. Or it might have just been a coincidence that Mary Magdalene was in the right place at the right time. Whatever the reason, Mary Magdalene was the first one to whom the risen Lord appeared, and it led to her becoming an apostle to the apostles. 
As we honor the memory Mary Magdalene today by reflecting on the account of the risen Lord’s appearance to her, there are several points that comes to the surface and which for me are worth reflecting about. Firstly, the Lord reveals the self to those who seek him, that is, those who for his sake have become restless. Mary was not at home when the Lord appeared to her. She was out in the field seeking/looking for the Lord. It is true that she too had come to pay her last respects to her dead master, but even after finding his body missing, she continued to seek the Lord. The Lord rewarded Mary's continued search. The Lord never disappoints those who seek him in truth. 
Secondly, Mary was able to discern the voice of the Lord amidst her grief. She couldn't recognize him from his looks, but she remembered the Lord’s voice. Do I let disappointments and let downs prevent me from hearing the Lord's voice when he calls? 
Thirdly, Mary wanted to cling to the Lord, but the Lord told her not to. Yes, it was a once in a lifetime opportunity, and anybody would have wanted to cling to the Lord in case he disappeared again. Yet, hers was to be a brief one. She had to continue with her mission, but this time not as a seeker but rather as a preacher. She had to go back and let the other seekers know of the good news of where to find him whom they seek. And Mary of Magdala obeyed. 
This is what makes Mary Magdalene an apostle to the apostles. She was free to refuse the commission. She was free to go home and keep silent, keeping the good news to herself. But she chose to share her story with others. This is the essence of an apostle: the willingness to share one's story with others. Have I been free to share my story with others?