Homily
*JULY 22 2020 FEAST OF SAINT MARY MAGDALENE*
Song of Songs 3: 1-4b or 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17; Psalm Ps 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; John 20: 1-2, 11-18
MY SOUL IS THIRSTING FOR YOU, O LORD MY GOD.
Today, our theme is taken from the response of the psalm. The theme shows the zeal of Saint Mary Magdalene towards having authentic and ardent relationship with Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Master. On this Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, our readings present an aspect of Mary Magdalene and her seeking the Lord Jesus and wanting to have a closer relationship with Him. The first of the two possibilities for the First Reading is from the Song of Songs. In it, the bride longs for her lover and, going out seeking him and asking people if they have seen him. The other choice for the First Reading is St. Paul’s words reminding us of the newness which comes from a relationship with the Lord Jesus. The Responsorial present the desire to be with the LORD GOD.
The book of the Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles or Song of Solomon) is a love story. Today’s passage presents the longing of a bride for her beloved. She travels throughout the city in search of her lover. She questions people about the whereabouts of the one for whom she longs. Finally, she encounters him. Obviously, there is a parallel with Mary Magdalene’s search for Jesus after His death and burial.
St. Paul (in the alternative for the First Reading) speaks about his relationship with his Savior. Although he never met Jesus before His ascension, Paul’s first understanding of Jesus was of a human. Yet as Paul has grown in faith and belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus, he realizes that Jesus has died for all. Paul now has a deeper relationship with Jesus who has brought a whole new meaning of what life is for all humans who embrace faith in the Lord Jesus.
The psalmist longs for a deeper relationship with God just as a thirsty individuals pines for water which refreshes and gives life.
The Gospel account focuses on Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Mary may have been the woman from whom Jesus drove out seven demons (Luke 8:2). Whether having these seven demons means she was mental ill, possessed, or a simply a well-known sinner is not known for sure, all we know is that Mary turned her life around and became a follower of the Lord Jesus and one of His most dedicated disciples. She was of assistance to Jesus and the rest of His entourage. She was at the foot of the cross as Jesus hung dying. She, as today’s Gospel relates, is at the tomb of Jesus early Easter Sunday morning and finds the tomb empty. After telling the apostles, she returns to experience two angels who speak of the Risen Lord. She then encounters a person whom she supposes to be a gardener. As the Man calls her by name, she realizes it is the Risen Jesus. She proclaims her relationship to Him by calling Him, “Rabbouni – My Teacher.” Jesus then makes her the Apostle to the Apostles by telling her to go and share her experiences.
One of the thoughts which touch me from this feast and from the readings is the concept of seeking and finding the Lord Jesus. Like the bride in the passage from the Song of Songs and like Mary Magdalene on Easter Sunday, we should longingly seek out our Beloved Lord. We may have to search in various places and asks others about where Jesus is. But in the end, we may encounter His presence in the least likely place and only after much effort has been made in being in relationship again with our Savior and Lord. As we continue to deepen our relationship with our Rabbouni (personal Teacher), we should then, as Mary Magdalene did, be willing to go out and announce the Good News that our Lord Jesus is alive and wants to have a personal relationship with others.
Mary Magdalene visited the tomb of Jesus. When she arrives, she finds it empty, and weeps. When confronted by Jesus, she can only say, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Mary Magdalene is blinded by her grief, her own human failings, because in that moment, she believed her struggles were greater than God himself. She has forgotten Christ’s promise that he will rebuild this temple in three days (Cf. John 2:19). She, who sat at the feet of Jesus as he suffered on the cross, does not recognize that Christ is standing in front of her. We often go through life like Mary Magdalene, blinded by our everyday fears and hardships, but her life and her actions give us an example to follow. Though blinded by her own human failings, she learned to have faith and trust in the constant presence of the mercy and love of Christ.
Christ says to her, “But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” With these words Christ proves to Mary Magdalene and to us that by his death and resurrection he has given mankind the ability to develop a personal relationship with God. Even after his death, he is calling Mary Magdalene and the disciples to more, to recognize that through his suffering on the cross he has transcended death and opened the gates of heaven to us. He calls us to renew our faith in him, “to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” He calls us into his arms, to know him, to love him, and serve him.
Many of us feel lost and unable to help against the senseless violence going on in our various countries, yet Mary Magdalene gives us the answer. The answer is Christ Jesus. He is always here for us. He is always present. St. Theresa of Avila gives us a simple prayer to remember the continuous presence of Christ in our lives, we but only have to look for him: Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things, whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.
*MEDITATION* How often have I been willing to go in search of my beloved Lover - Jesus? How have I encountered the Lord Jesus at times when I have almost lost hope? What can I do to announce that glad tidings to those who are still in pain, in sorrow, and in doubt?
*PRAYER* Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith, and draw me closer to yourself, who lives and reigns with Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, AMEN.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
Song of Songs 3: 1-4b or 2 Corinthians 5: 14-17; Psalm Ps 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9; John 20: 1-2, 11-18
MY SOUL IS THIRSTING FOR YOU, O LORD MY GOD.
Today, our theme is taken from the response of the psalm. The theme shows the zeal of Saint Mary Magdalene towards having authentic and ardent relationship with Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Master. On this Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, our readings present an aspect of Mary Magdalene and her seeking the Lord Jesus and wanting to have a closer relationship with Him. The first of the two possibilities for the First Reading is from the Song of Songs. In it, the bride longs for her lover and, going out seeking him and asking people if they have seen him. The other choice for the First Reading is St. Paul’s words reminding us of the newness which comes from a relationship with the Lord Jesus. The Responsorial present the desire to be with the LORD GOD.
The book of the Song of Songs (or Canticle of Canticles or Song of Solomon) is a love story. Today’s passage presents the longing of a bride for her beloved. She travels throughout the city in search of her lover. She questions people about the whereabouts of the one for whom she longs. Finally, she encounters him. Obviously, there is a parallel with Mary Magdalene’s search for Jesus after His death and burial.
St. Paul (in the alternative for the First Reading) speaks about his relationship with his Savior. Although he never met Jesus before His ascension, Paul’s first understanding of Jesus was of a human. Yet as Paul has grown in faith and belief in the death and resurrection of Jesus, he realizes that Jesus has died for all. Paul now has a deeper relationship with Jesus who has brought a whole new meaning of what life is for all humans who embrace faith in the Lord Jesus.
The psalmist longs for a deeper relationship with God just as a thirsty individuals pines for water which refreshes and gives life.
The Gospel account focuses on Jesus and Mary Magdalene. Mary may have been the woman from whom Jesus drove out seven demons (Luke 8:2). Whether having these seven demons means she was mental ill, possessed, or a simply a well-known sinner is not known for sure, all we know is that Mary turned her life around and became a follower of the Lord Jesus and one of His most dedicated disciples. She was of assistance to Jesus and the rest of His entourage. She was at the foot of the cross as Jesus hung dying. She, as today’s Gospel relates, is at the tomb of Jesus early Easter Sunday morning and finds the tomb empty. After telling the apostles, she returns to experience two angels who speak of the Risen Lord. She then encounters a person whom she supposes to be a gardener. As the Man calls her by name, she realizes it is the Risen Jesus. She proclaims her relationship to Him by calling Him, “Rabbouni – My Teacher.” Jesus then makes her the Apostle to the Apostles by telling her to go and share her experiences.
One of the thoughts which touch me from this feast and from the readings is the concept of seeking and finding the Lord Jesus. Like the bride in the passage from the Song of Songs and like Mary Magdalene on Easter Sunday, we should longingly seek out our Beloved Lord. We may have to search in various places and asks others about where Jesus is. But in the end, we may encounter His presence in the least likely place and only after much effort has been made in being in relationship again with our Savior and Lord. As we continue to deepen our relationship with our Rabbouni (personal Teacher), we should then, as Mary Magdalene did, be willing to go out and announce the Good News that our Lord Jesus is alive and wants to have a personal relationship with others.
Mary Magdalene visited the tomb of Jesus. When she arrives, she finds it empty, and weeps. When confronted by Jesus, she can only say, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Mary Magdalene is blinded by her grief, her own human failings, because in that moment, she believed her struggles were greater than God himself. She has forgotten Christ’s promise that he will rebuild this temple in three days (Cf. John 2:19). She, who sat at the feet of Jesus as he suffered on the cross, does not recognize that Christ is standing in front of her. We often go through life like Mary Magdalene, blinded by our everyday fears and hardships, but her life and her actions give us an example to follow. Though blinded by her own human failings, she learned to have faith and trust in the constant presence of the mercy and love of Christ.
Christ says to her, “But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” With these words Christ proves to Mary Magdalene and to us that by his death and resurrection he has given mankind the ability to develop a personal relationship with God. Even after his death, he is calling Mary Magdalene and the disciples to more, to recognize that through his suffering on the cross he has transcended death and opened the gates of heaven to us. He calls us to renew our faith in him, “to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” He calls us into his arms, to know him, to love him, and serve him.
Many of us feel lost and unable to help against the senseless violence going on in our various countries, yet Mary Magdalene gives us the answer. The answer is Christ Jesus. He is always here for us. He is always present. St. Theresa of Avila gives us a simple prayer to remember the continuous presence of Christ in our lives, we but only have to look for him: Let nothing disturb you, let nothing frighten you, all things are passing away: God never changes. Patience obtains all things, whoever has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.
*MEDITATION* How often have I been willing to go in search of my beloved Lover - Jesus? How have I encountered the Lord Jesus at times when I have almost lost hope? What can I do to announce that glad tidings to those who are still in pain, in sorrow, and in doubt?
*PRAYER* Lord Jesus Christ, increase my faith, and draw me closer to yourself, who lives and reigns with Father and the Holy Spirit, One God, forever and ever, AMEN.
© Rev Utazi Prince Marie Benignus SFDPM
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