Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene
Lectionary: 396/603
Lectionary: 396/603
Shepherd your
people with your staff,
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea
all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.
the flock of your inheritance,
That dwells apart in a woodland,
in the midst of Carmel.
Let them feed in Bashan and Gilead,
as in the days of old;
As in the days when you came from the land of Egypt,
show us wonderful signs.
Who is there like you, the God who removes guilt
and pardons sin for the remnant of his inheritance;
Who does not persist in anger forever,
but delights rather in clemency,
And will again have compassion on us,
treading underfoot our guilt?
You will cast into the depths of the sea
all our sins;
You will show faithfulness to Jacob,
and grace to Abraham,
As you have sworn to our fathers
from days of old.
Responsorial Psalm PS 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. (8a) Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Restore us, O God our savior,
and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations?
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
You have favored, O LORD, your land;
you have brought back the captives of Jacob.
You have forgiven the guilt of your people;
you have covered all their sins.
You have withdrawn all your wrath;
you have revoked your burning anger.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Restore us, O God our savior,
and abandon your displeasure against us.
Will you be ever angry with us,
prolonging your anger to all generations?
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Will you not instead give us life;
and shall not your people rejoice in you?
Show us, O LORD, your kindness,
and grant us your salvation.
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Gospel JN 20:1-2, 11-18
On the first day of
the week,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.
And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb
and saw two angels in white sitting there,
one at the head and one at the feet
where the Body of Jesus had been.
And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?”
She said to them, “They have taken my Lord,
and I don’t know where they laid him.”
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,
but did not know it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?
Whom are you looking for?”
She thought it was the gardener and said to him,
“Sir, if you carried him away,
tell me where you laid him,
and I will take him.”
Jesus said to her, “Mary!”
She turned and said to him in Hebrew,
“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.
Jesus said to her,
“Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and tell them,
‘I am going to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,
“I have seen the Lord,”
and then reported what he told her.
Meditation: "I have seen the Lord!"
Do you recognize the presence and reality of the
Lord Jesus in your life? How easy it is to miss the Lord when our focus is on
ourselves! Mary Magdalene did not at first recognize the Lord Jesus after he
had risen from the grave because her focus was on the empty tomb and on her own
grief. It took only one word from the Master, when he called her by name, for
Mary to recognize him.
Recognizing the Lord's presence in our lives
Mary's message to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, is the very essence of Christianity. It is not enough that every Christian know something about the Lord, but that each one of us know him personally and intimately. It is not enough to argue about him, but that we meet him. Through the power of his resurrection we can encounter the living Lord who loves us personally and shares his glory with us.
Mary's message to the disciples, I have seen the Lord, is the very essence of Christianity. It is not enough that every Christian know something about the Lord, but that each one of us know him personally and intimately. It is not enough to argue about him, but that we meet him. Through the power of his resurrection we can encounter the living Lord who loves us personally and shares his glory with us.
The Lord Jesus gives us "eyes of
faith" to see the truth of his resurrection and his victory over sin and
death (Ephesians 1:18). The resurrection of Jesus is the foundation of our hope
- the hope that we will see God face to face and share in his everlasting glory
and joy.
Without
having seen him you love him; though you do not now see him you believe in him
and rejoice with unutterable and exalted joy. As the outcome of your faith you
obtain the salvation of your souls (1 Peter 1:8-9).
Do you
recognize the Lord's presence with you, in his word, in the "breaking of
the bread", and in his church, the body of Christ?
"Lord Jesus, may I never fail to recognize
your voice nor lose sight of your presence in your saving word."
 Two Hearts Beat as One |
July 22, 2014, Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene
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John 20: 1-2; 11-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark,
Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from
the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one
whom Jesus loved, and said to them, "They have taken the Lord out of the
tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him." But Mary stood
weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;
and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been
lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her,
"Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have
taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him." When
she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she
did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you
weeping? Who are you looking for?" Supposing him to be the gardener, she
said to him, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have
laid him, and I will take him away." Jesus said to her,
"Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni!"
(which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, "Do not hold on to me, because
I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them,
´I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.´"
Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the
Lord"; and she told them that he had said these things to her.
Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I come before you wanting to grow in my
knowledge of you and wanting to grow in love for you. I want to show my love
by truly loving others as you have loved me. My falls are many, yet I trust
in your grace never to stay down and always to get up. I trust that your
mercy will change my heart. So I stand before you, ready to listen to your
words and ready to unite myself more perfectly to your most holy will.
Petition: Lord, grant me a love similar to Mary Magdalene’s
passionate love for Christ.
1. The Lone Guard: How sad Mary Magdalene must have been as she sat and
wept outside our Lord’s tomb! Our Lord had healed her soul; he had cast seven
demons from her heart. She had stood at the foot of our Lord’s cross, along
with the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John. She had washed our Lord’s feet
with her tears; now her tears flow down her face. She’s alone. Or rather she
experienced an existential loneliness in the face of the bitter events of
Good Friday. But she wasn’t alone. We are never alone in our suffering. Do I
suffer alone, or do I open my heart to Our Lord in all my trials?
2. “Mary!” - How Mary Magdalene must have endeared herself to our
Lord. The other followers were locked up in their rooms. Yet here was this
simple, humble woman, trying to accompany our Lord in the only way she knew.
We have much to learn from this beautiful soul. How she moved the heart of
Jesus! She’s the first one he appears to after his resurrection. What a gift.
What a gift to have the Risen Lord say your name. Despite her anguish she
wishes to honor her Lord who she is about to discover is God. In moments of
trial and pain, do I remember to honor God with my thoughts, desires,
intentions and actions? Does he remain number one for me no matter what I’m
going through?
3. The Ultimate Message: As Mary Magdalene touched our Lord’s
heart, he would now touch hers, and she would become the apostle to the
apostles. She’s the first one to announce to the world that our Lord has
risen from the dead. Jesus is the Lord of life. What was moving through her
heart as she hurried towards the apostles? Let’s ask Christ for that gift –
to have the same zeal as Mary Magdalene did as she went to proclaim that she
had met the Risen Lord! Am I a witness to the saving message of Our Lord
including, or especially, in the midst of great personal suffering?
Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I want to endear myself to you
just as Mary Magdalene did at your tomb. Then, fill me with the joy you
instilled in her heart on that first Easter morning.
Resolution: Today I will see how I caxn help at my parish, in
imitation of Mary Magdalene’s assistance to our Church 2,000 years ago.
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TUESDAY, JULY 22, JOHN
20:1-2, 11-18
(Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 85)
(Micah 7:14-15, 18-20; Psalm 85)
KEY VERSE: "I have seen the Lord" (v 18).
READING: Mary Magdalene came from the town of "Magdala" on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. She is described in the New Testament as a devoted disciple of Jesus. She is mentioned as one of the women who ministered to Jesus "out of their resources" (Lk 8:2). Luke also tells the story of an exorcism performed on Mary that cast out seven demons (which might have been physical, mental or spiritual maladies). Mary was among the women who accompanied Jesus on his last journey to Jerusalem (Matt 27:55; Mk 15:41; Lk 23:55). She witnessed the crucifixion and was the first witness of Jesus' resurrection. John's gospel tells us that in the early dawn of the first day of the week (Sunday) Mary Magdalene came to the sepulcher and found it empty. She ran to tell Peter and John, and then returned to the tomb and remained there weeping. When Jesus appeared to her, she did not recognize him and thought he was a gardener. When he spoke her name she cried, "Rabboni" (Hebrew, "Master" or "Teacher"). She wanted to cling to Jesus but he forbade her. He told her to go to his brothers and say to them, "I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God" (Jn 20:17). Mary then returned to Jerusalem, and was probably among the group of women who joined the Apostles in the Upper Room after Jesus' ascension (Acts 1:14). Mary is called "The Apostle to the Apostles," but she is also a witness to the whole world.
REFLECTING: Do I give testimony to the Risen Lord in my life?
PRAYING: St. Mary of Magdala, help me to recognize our Savior in my sorrow and in my joy.
Memorial of Mary Magdalene
Although we do not know many details about her life, we know that Mary Magdalene was a significant leader of early Christianity. Many false ideas about her persist today. For example, early church fathers incorrectly identified her with the sinful woman who anointed Christ's feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee, but there is nothing in the Bible to support this view and much to dispute it. Others wrongly believed she was Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. The Bible gives us clues about her importance. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene and not to Peter, according to the Gospel of John. In other scriptures, her name is first in the list of witnesses (Mk. 16:1-11; Mt. 28:1; Lk. 24:10; Jn. 20:11-18; 1 Cor. 15:5-8). Mary Magdalene's encounter with Christ that first Easter morning is a familiar subject in art and music. The popular hymn, "I Come to the Garden," was also inspired by the story. Mary Magdalene is considered by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches to be a saint, with a feast day of July 22.
Although we do not know many details about her life, we know that Mary Magdalene was a significant leader of early Christianity. Many false ideas about her persist today. For example, early church fathers incorrectly identified her with the sinful woman who anointed Christ's feet at the house of Simon the Pharisee, but there is nothing in the Bible to support this view and much to dispute it. Others wrongly believed she was Mary of Bethany, sister of Martha and Lazarus. The Bible gives us clues about her importance. After his resurrection, Jesus first appeared to Mary Magdalene and not to Peter, according to the Gospel of John. In other scriptures, her name is first in the list of witnesses (Mk. 16:1-11; Mt. 28:1; Lk. 24:10; Jn. 20:11-18; 1 Cor. 15:5-8). Mary Magdalene's encounter with Christ that first Easter morning is a familiar subject in art and music. The popular hymn, "I Come to the Garden," was also inspired by the story. Mary Magdalene is considered by the Roman Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, and Anglican churches to be a saint, with a feast day of July 22.
MINUTE MEDITATIONS
Lord, Save Your People
Jesus does not save us as individuals, but as members of His Body.
We are not just people—unconnected and isolated arms and legs. We are a
people—in fact, the People of God
Lord, show us your mercy and love
Lord, you teach us who are your true kindred: those who are one
with you in seeking and doing your Father’s will.Because we love you, this is what we want to do, but often we fail. Sometimes our failures are deliberate—called by you to be considerate of others, we act selfishly. Then we regret what we have done. Our failures and our efforts to amend make us realise how much we need your help. We cannot be kin to you unless we first acknowledge you as our saviour upon whom we depend for grace to begin, to continue and to complete any and every good work. Teach us, Lord, to turn to you prayerfully and trustfully, Despite our weakness, help us to keep on trying to become someone you can recognise as your own.
July
22
St. Mary Magdalene
St. Mary Magdalene
Except for the mother of Jesus, few women are more honored in the
Bible than Mary Magdalene. Yet she could well be the patron of the slandered,
since there has been a persistent legend in the Church that she is the unnamed
sinful woman who anointed the feet of Jesus in Luke 7:36-50.
Most
Scripture scholars today point out that there is no scriptural basis for
confusing the two women. Mary Magdalene, that is, “of Magdala,” was the one
from whom Christ cast out “seven demons” (Luke 8:2)—an indication, at the
worst, of extreme demonic possession or, possibly, severe illness.
Father
Wilfrid J. Harrington, O.P., writing in the New Catholic Commentary,
says that “seven demons” “does not mean that Mary had lived an immoral life—a
conclusion reached only by means of a mistaken identification with the
anonymous woman of Luke 7:36.” Father Edward Mally, S.J., writing in the Jerome
Biblical Commentary, agrees that she “is not...the same as the sinner
of Luke 7:37, despite the later Western romantic tradition about her.”
Mary
Magdalene was one of the many “who were assisting them [Jesus and the Twelve]
out of their means.” She was one of those who stood by the cross of Jesus with
his mother. And, of all the “official” witnesses that might have been chosen
for the first awareness of the Resurrection, she was the one to whom that
privilege was given. She is known as the "Apostle to the Apostles."
Stories:
Today’s Gospel (John 20:1–2, 11–18) shows Mary at first not
recognizing the risen Jesus in the garden, then knowing him as he spoke her
name. Her great love bursts forth, echoing the First Reading, “I took hold of
him and would not let him go” (Song 3:4b). Jesus says, “Stop holding on to me,
for I have not yet ascended to the Father” (John 20:17a). The meaning probably
is that there is an entirely new relationship now—a much deeper one, resting in
faith rather than the former relationship that was possible because of his
visible body. Saint John may also be stressing the fact that Jesus’ exaltation
at the right hand of the Father is the completion of the Resurrection.
Comment:
Mary Magdalene has been a victim of mistaken identity for almost 20 centuries. Yet she would no doubt insist that it makes no difference. We are all sinners in need of the saving power of God, whether our sins have been lurid or not. More importantly, we are all, with her, “unofficial” witnesses of the Resurrection.
Mary Magdalene has been a victim of mistaken identity for almost 20 centuries. Yet she would no doubt insist that it makes no difference. We are all sinners in need of the saving power of God, whether our sins have been lurid or not. More importantly, we are all, with her, “unofficial” witnesses of the Resurrection.
Patron Saint of:
Penitents
Perfumers
Penitents
Perfumers
LECTIO DIVINA:
SAINT MARY MAGDALENE
Lectio:
Tuesday, July 22, 2014
Ordinary Time
1) Opening prayer
Lord,
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
be merciful to your people.
Fill us with your gifts
and make us always eager to serve you
in faith, hope and love.
You live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
2) Gospel Reading - John 20,1-2.11-18
It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark,
when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved
away from the tomb
Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him.'
As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.'
Jesus said, 'Mary!' She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' -- which means Master. Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord,' and that he had said these things to her.
Mary was standing outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, as she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, 'Woman, why are you weeping?' 'They have taken my Lord away,' she replied, 'and I don't know where they have put him.'
As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, 'Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?' Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, 'Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.'
Jesus said, 'Mary!' She turned round then and said to him in Hebrew, 'Rabbuni!' -- which means Master. Jesus said to her, 'Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.' So Mary of Magdala told the disciples, 'I have seen the Lord,' and that he had said these things to her.
3) Reflection
• The Gospel today presents the apparition of Jesus to Mary
Magdalene, whose feast we celebrate today. The death of Jesus, her great
friend, makes her lose the sense of life. But she does not cease to look for
him. She goes to the tomb to encounter anew the one whom death had stolen.
There are moments in life in which everything crumbles down. It seems that
everything has come to an end. Death, disasters, pain, disillusionments,
betrayals! There are so many things that can make one lose the earth under our
feet and produce in us a profound crisis. But something diverse can also take
place. Unexpectedly, the encounter with a friend can give us back the sense of
life and make us discover that love is stronger than death and than defeat. In
the way in which the apparition of Jesus to Mary Magdalene is described we
distinguish the stages followed, from the painful seeking for the dead friend
to the encounter of the risen Lord. These are also the stages that we all
follow, along our life, seeking God and in living out the Gospel. It is the
process of death and of resurrection which is prolonged day after day.
• John 20,1: Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb. There was a profound love between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. She was one of the few persons who had the courage to remain with Jesus until the hour of his death on the Cross. After the obligatory rest of the Sabbath, she returned to the tomb, to be in the place where she had met the Beloved for the last time. But, to her great surprise, the tomb was empty!
• John 20,11-13: Mary Magdalene weeps, but seeks. As she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. The angels asked: “Why are you weeping?” Response: “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” Mary Magdalene looks for the Jesus she had known, the same one with whom she had lived during three years.
• John 20,14-15: Mary Magdalene speaks with Jesus without recognizing him; the Disciples of Emmaus saw Jesus, but they did not recognize him (Lk 24,15-16). The same thing happens to Mary Magdalene. She sees Jesus, but does not recognize him. She thinks that it is the gardener. Jesus also asks, like the angels had done: “Why are you weeping?” And he adds “Who are you looking for?” Response: “If you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him!” She is still looking for the Jesus of the past, the same one of three days before. The image of the past prevents her from recognizing the living Jesus, who is standing in front of her.
• John 20,16: Mary Magdalene recognizes Jesus. Jesus pronounces the name “Mary!” (Miriam). This is the sign of recognition: the same voice, the same way of pronouncing the name. She answers “Master!” (Rabbuni). Jesus turns. The first impression is that death has been only a painful accident on the way, but that now everything has turned back as it was in the beginning. Mary embraces Jesus intensely. He was the same Jesus who had died on the cross, the same one whom she had known and loved. Here takes place what Jesus had said in the Parable of the Good Shepherd: “He calls his by name and they know his voice”. “I know my sheep and my sheep know me!” (Jn 10,2.4.14).
• John 20,17: Mary Magdalene receives the mission to announce the resurrection to the Apostles. In fact, it is the same Jesus, but the way of being with her is not the same. Jesus tells her: “Do not cling to me because I have not yet ascended to the Father!” Jesus is going to be together with the Father. Mary Magdalene should not cling to him, but she has to assume her mission: “But go and find my brothers and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father”. He calls the disciples “my brothers”. Ascending to the Father Jesus opens the way for us so that we can be close to God. “I want them to be with me where I am” (Jn 17,24; 14,3).
• John 20,18: The dignity and the mission of Magdalene and of the women. Mary Magdalene is called the disciple of Jesus (Lk 8,1-2); witness of his crucifixion (Mk 15,40-41; Mt 27,55-56; Jn 19, 25), of his burial (Mk 15, 47; Lk 23, 55; Mt 27, 61), and of his resurrection (Mk 16,1-8; Mt 28,1-10; Jn 20,1.11-18). And now she receives the order, she is ordered to go to the Twelve and to announce to them that Jesus is alive. Without this Good News of the Resurrection, the seven lamps of the Sacraments would extinguish (Mt 28,10); Jn 20,17-18).
• John 20,1: Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb. There was a profound love between Jesus and Mary Magdalene. She was one of the few persons who had the courage to remain with Jesus until the hour of his death on the Cross. After the obligatory rest of the Sabbath, she returned to the tomb, to be in the place where she had met the Beloved for the last time. But, to her great surprise, the tomb was empty!
• John 20,11-13: Mary Magdalene weeps, but seeks. As she wept, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. The angels asked: “Why are you weeping?” Response: “They have taken my Lord away, and I do not know where they have put him!” Mary Magdalene looks for the Jesus she had known, the same one with whom she had lived during three years.
• John 20,14-15: Mary Magdalene speaks with Jesus without recognizing him; the Disciples of Emmaus saw Jesus, but they did not recognize him (Lk 24,15-16). The same thing happens to Mary Magdalene. She sees Jesus, but does not recognize him. She thinks that it is the gardener. Jesus also asks, like the angels had done: “Why are you weeping?” And he adds “Who are you looking for?” Response: “If you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him!” She is still looking for the Jesus of the past, the same one of three days before. The image of the past prevents her from recognizing the living Jesus, who is standing in front of her.
• John 20,16: Mary Magdalene recognizes Jesus. Jesus pronounces the name “Mary!” (Miriam). This is the sign of recognition: the same voice, the same way of pronouncing the name. She answers “Master!” (Rabbuni). Jesus turns. The first impression is that death has been only a painful accident on the way, but that now everything has turned back as it was in the beginning. Mary embraces Jesus intensely. He was the same Jesus who had died on the cross, the same one whom she had known and loved. Here takes place what Jesus had said in the Parable of the Good Shepherd: “He calls his by name and they know his voice”. “I know my sheep and my sheep know me!” (Jn 10,2.4.14).
• John 20,17: Mary Magdalene receives the mission to announce the resurrection to the Apostles. In fact, it is the same Jesus, but the way of being with her is not the same. Jesus tells her: “Do not cling to me because I have not yet ascended to the Father!” Jesus is going to be together with the Father. Mary Magdalene should not cling to him, but she has to assume her mission: “But go and find my brothers and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father”. He calls the disciples “my brothers”. Ascending to the Father Jesus opens the way for us so that we can be close to God. “I want them to be with me where I am” (Jn 17,24; 14,3).
• John 20,18: The dignity and the mission of Magdalene and of the women. Mary Magdalene is called the disciple of Jesus (Lk 8,1-2); witness of his crucifixion (Mk 15,40-41; Mt 27,55-56; Jn 19, 25), of his burial (Mk 15, 47; Lk 23, 55; Mt 27, 61), and of his resurrection (Mk 16,1-8; Mt 28,1-10; Jn 20,1.11-18). And now she receives the order, she is ordered to go to the Twelve and to announce to them that Jesus is alive. Without this Good News of the Resurrection, the seven lamps of the Sacraments would extinguish (Mt 28,10); Jn 20,17-18).
4) Personal questions
• Have you ever had an experience that has produced in you an
impression of loss and of death? What has given you new life and the hope and
joy of living?
• Mary Magdalene looked for Jesus in a certain way and found him again in another way. How does this take place in our life today?
• Mary Magdalene looked for Jesus in a certain way and found him again in another way. How does this take place in our life today?
5) Concluding Prayer
God, you are my God, I pine for you;
My heart thirsts for you,
My body longs for you,
As a land parched, dreary and waterless. (Ps 63,1)
My heart thirsts for you,
My body longs for you,
As a land parched, dreary and waterless. (Ps 63,1)
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