22 July, 2023 | Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

 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.

Reflections:

St Mary Magdalene witnessed the death and burial of Jesus and it is the Gospel according to John that highlights the role of Mary at the Resurrection. Though Mary seems to have been alone weeping outside the tomb, she was really not alone. The one for whom she wept was present,  even though she did not recognize him. The risen Lord is always present to us in our moments of sadness and grief, in our times of struggles and distress. Like Mary Magdalene we do not always recognize the Lord’s presence. We could be so absorbed in our that we struggle to see beyond it. At such times, we need to find a quiet moment to become aware of the Risen Lord’s presence and to hear him call our name, as he called Mary by her name. The feast of St Mary Magdalene invites us to do just this.

Activity:

 In the silence of your heart, hear the Lord calling your name and respond, “Master”.

Henri Nouwen Books