DAILY- HOMILY

July 22, 2015 WEDNESDAY, 18TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Mary Magdalene, Disciple of the Lord 

Memorial, White

Ex 16: 1 - 5, 9 - 15 / Jn 20: 11 - 18

[At his resurrection, our Lord appeared first to St. Mary Magdalene, a close disciple of our Lord.]

Reading: Ex 16:1 - 5, 9 - 15 

     The Israelites left Elim and the entire community reached the desert of Sin, between Elim and Sinai, on the fifteenth day of the second month after leaving Egypt.

     In the desert the whole community of Israel grumbled against Moses and Aaron and said to them, "If only we had died by the hand of Yahweh in Egypt when we sat down to caldrons of meat and ate all the bread we wanted, whereas you have brought us to this desert to let the whole assembly die of starvation!"

     Yahweh then said to Moses, "Now I am going to rain down bread from heaven for you. Each day the people are to gather what is needed for that day. In this way I will test them to see if they will follow my Teaching or not. On the sixth day when they prepare what they have brought in, they will find that there is twice as much as they gather each day."

     Then Moses directed Aaron to say to the whole community of Israel, "Draw near to Yahweh for he has heard your complaints."

     It happened that as Aaron was speaking to the full assembly of Israel, they turned towards the desert and saw the Glory of Yahweh in the midst of the cloud.

     Then Yahweh spoke to Moses, "I have heard the complaints of Israel. Speak to them and say: Between the two evenings you will eat meat, and in the morning you will have bread to your heart's content; then you shall know that I am Yahweh, your God!"

     In the evening quails came up and covered the camp. And in the morning, dew had fallen around the camp. When the dew lifted, there was on the surface of the desert a thin crust like hoarfrost. The people of Israel upon seeing it said to one another, "What is it?" for they didn't know what it was. Moses told them, "It is the bread that Yahweh has given you to eat."

Gospel: Jn 20: 11- 18

     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:

     Today's readings at Mass point to a common experience of man: the absence of God.  

     In the first reading the Israelites in the desert felt that God had abandoned them because they lacked food and water. In the Gospel reading Mary Magdalene was in grief looking for Jesus and finding an empty tomb. The Israelites felt despair in their extreme need; Mary Magdalene was in great sadness not finding her Lord. But God heard their pleas and answered them.

     Oftentimes in our sadness and despair, we ask the same question, "Where is God?" When there is suffering we feel that God must have abandoned us. The readings assure us that God never leaves us but perhaps our weak faith blocks our view of his presence and love. Knowing our restlessness and need, God will "re-appear" in our lives in various ways to reassure us of his abiding presence and love for us.

     When in despair, in sadness and feeling lost, we can simply trust in God's abiding presence and love for us.  

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER DIARY INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     LUIS BERNARDO A. PUHAWAN

WEDDING ANNIVERSARY

     RAYMUND & JULIE CHUA

IN MEMORIAM (+)

     JAMES RICHARD HART

     JULIAN UY JR.

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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