DAILY- HOMILY

July 22, 2017 – SATURDAY, 15TH Week in Ordinary Time

St. Mary Magdalene, Disciple of the Lord

Memorial, White

Ex 12: 37 - 42 / Jn 20: 1 - 2, 12 - 18

     After the resurrection, Our Lord appeared to St. Mary Magdalene, a close friend and disciple of the Lord.

FROM THE FIRST READING:          Ex 12: 40- 42a

     The Israelites had been in Egypt for four hundred and thirty years. It was at the end of these four hundred and thirty years to the very day that the armies of Yahweh left Egypt. This is the watch for Yahweh who brought Israel out of Egypt.

From the GOSPEL READING:        Jn 20: 1 - 2, 12- 17

     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. And she said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb and we don't know where they have laid him."

     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."'

REFLECTION

     Today's first reading paints for us a difficult and hopeless situation. The Israelites finally escape from Egypt but find themselves unprepared for the unknown journey ahead. Like them, we too find ourselves in similar difficult situations in our lives, feeling trapped, unprepared and ill-equipped.

     On the other hand, the Gospel reading assures us that in such difficult situations, we can always depend on God. It is during such difficult and desperate moments in life when we realize 1) that God is always present and 2) that we can always hold on to him and his presence.

     The challenge to us is to believe in this. Mary found herself lost because her Lord had been taken away. She receives reassurance from the comforting words and presence of Jesus himself.

     As we journey through life, we pray to have hearts that always long for God in all things and that, when we find ourselves lost, confused and discouraged, we find his loving presence.

WE PRAY FOR MTQ DAILY PRAYER INTENTIONS:

BIRTHDAY

     LUIS BERNARDO A. PUHAWAN

IN MEMORIAM (†) 

     JAMES RICHARD HART

     JULIAN UY JR. (OCT. 5, 1945 ·JULY 22, 2002)

     WILLIAM JOSEPH KEYES

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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   |  The Daily Prayer, a service and an apostolate of the

   |  priests, laity and friends of Mary the Queen Parish

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