DAILY- HOMILY

July 22, 2014
Tuesday 16th Week in Ordinary Time
[Memorial, St. Mary Magdalene]
 
Mi 7: 14-15, 18-20   / Ps 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8 / Jn 20: 1-2, 11-18

Reading: Mi 7: 14-15, 18-20  
Shepherd your people with your staff, shepherd the flock of your inheritance that dwells alone in the scrub, in the midst of a fertile land. Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead as in the days of old, in the days when you went out of Egypt. Show us your wonders. Who is a god like you, who takes away guilt and pardons crime for the remnant of his inheritance? Who is like you whose anger does not last? For you delight in merciful forgiveness. Once again you will show us your loving kindness and trample on our wrongs, casting all our sins into the depths of the sea. Show faithfulness to Jacob, mercy to Abraham, as you have sworn to our ancestors from the days of old.   

Gospel: John 20: 1-2, 11-18
Now, on the first day after the Sabbath, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark and she saw that the stone blocking the tomb had been moved away. She ran to Peter and the other disciple whom Jesus loved. And she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him." Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she bent down to look inside; she saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, and the other at the feet. They said, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She answered, "Because they have taken my Lord and I don't know where they have put him." As she said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not recognize him. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and answered him, "Lord, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned and said to him, "Rabboni" - which means, Master. Jesus said to her, "Do not cling to me; you see I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them: I am ascending to my Father, who is your Father, to my God, who is your God." So Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord, and this is what he said to me."

Reflection:
     St. Mary Magdalene was one of the early disciples of Jesus. After Jesus cast out seven demons from her, she became one of his most ardent followers. She was present with Mary and John under the cross when Jesus died. Her persevering love for Jesus allowed her to be the first witness of the Risen Christ. According to Church tradition, she eventually went to southern France where she continued Jesus' mission of evangelization. 
     What can we learn from Mary Magdalene? First, once she was cured by Jesus of her demons, she changed her life radically. Are we like her?  Some of us have experienced the forgiveness of Jesus but do we totally appreciate his love and kindness as Mary did?  Do we follow Jesus and serve him?  Second lesson we learn from Mary is her perseverance.  In today's Gospel reading, she did not see Jesus in the tomb, but she remained by the tomb looking for him. Then Jesus appeared to her and her longing for him was satisfied.  When we look for Jesus in our lives, do we persevere as Mary did?  Are we ready to wait day and night for our Bridegroom to come?  How much do we really love Jesus?  Are we ready to stay under the cross as Mary did. This is the third lesson we receive from Mary - to love God, the most important thing to do in life. Our relationship with Jesus must be a personal relationship. We must talk to him with love because that is how he talks to us. We must also be ready to stay by his side in times of difficulties and bear the crosses we experience and not give up. Then Jesus will reward us with an experience of his resurrection.

Prayer Requests:
We pray ...
... for a deep and profound respect for life, especially for the unborn
... for all the prayer intentions in the MTQ Dailyprayer Diary
... for families who are in need of healing
... for world peace and reconciliation
... for the wedding anniversary intentions of Ben & Net Ong, birthday intentions of Net Ong

Finally, we pray for one another, for those who have asked our prayers and for those who need our prayers the most.

Have a good day!

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