READINGS for 2008-07-22
Memorial of Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord EXPRESS YOURSELF
And she told them everything He said to her. – John 20:18
I have never been good in formal public speaking. Sure, I give talks but it’s always the casual type of speaking. The thing with public speaking and me is that I often forget some important points that I want to touch on. I usually find myself thinking, I should have said this or I can’t believe I forgot to say that. That’s why I pick writing over speaking when I want to express something. When I write, I know I won’t forget anything because my outlines work for me there.
In writing, I also find ways to tell the world about how great God is. I post my life lessons and things I learn from my experiences and people from all walks of like get to read it online. I’m always humbled and blessed whenever I read comments from visitors who got to know God better through the things I wrote.
How about you? How do you express yourself best? How do you express your God? Tina Matanguihan
REFLECTION:
What’s your best way of telling the world about the Lord?
Father, help me to find the best way to tell everyone how great You are.
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1st READING
Mary Magdalene is a great example of the power of repentance in a person’s life.Her conversion to becoming one of the followers of Jesus and even the first witness to the resurrection is one of the great stories of the New Testament. In it, we see the power of the Holy Spirit at work, and this can give us great hope for our own situations which are often not that different to Mary’s.
Songs 3: 1-4 (or 2Corinthians 5: 14-17 or Micah 7: 14-15 ,1 8-20)
1 The Bride says: On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves — I sought him but I did not find him. 2 I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen came upon me as they made their rounds of the city. Have you seen him whom my heart loves? 4 I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves. I took hold of him and would not let him go till I should bring him to the home of my mother, to the room of my parent.
P S A L M
Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (or Psalm 85: 2-4, 5-6, 7-8)
R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 7 [8] You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. 8 [9] My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)
G O S P E L
Mary is the first witness to the resurrection of Jesus. She sees Him in His risen form and goes away to announce this fact to the apostles. This event is the pattern for the proclamation of the Gospel. Each of us has to come to that place in our lives where, after experiencing the life-changing power of faith we, too, can proclaim that we have “seen the Lord.”
John 20: 1-2 , 11-18 (or Matthew 12:46-50)
1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 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.” 11 But Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw experiencing the life-changing power of faith we, too, can proclaim that we have “seen the Lord.” two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the body of Jesus had been. 13 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.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 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.’ ” 18 Mary of Magdala went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and what he told her.
my reflections
think:Each of us has to come to that place in our lives where, after
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God’s special verse/thought for me today________________ _________________________________________________________
T O D A Y ’ S BLESSING LIST Thank You Lord for: ____________________________________
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READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR 1 Maccabees 1-2
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i havE CallEd yOU by naME
Mary is the one from whom Jesus casts out seven demons. Jesus freed her from her sins and she was indebted to Him for the forgiveness and mercy shown to her. The Gospel tells us that many women followed Jesus, and supported Him and the disciples just as Mary did. Mary is not Mary of Bethany, or the one of whom we hear was caught in the act of adultery. She witnessed the crucifixion and death of Jesus at Calvary. She became one of the first disciples to whom Jesus appeared after the resurrection.
Imagine yourself in Mary’s position. Only a few days had passed when you witnessed the cruel death of Jesus. You had no time to perform the customary rituals of burial. So the first thing you do after the Sabbath is to continue with these burial rites. To your amazement, you find the tombstone rolled away – and found that Jesus’ body was no longer there!
Mary must have been distraught with grief. Overwhelmed by grief and loss, Mary weeps. It was an outburst of emotion. There are times of happiness and joy. But there are also times of sadness and desolation.
It was at the lowest point of Mary’s life that Jesus speaks her name. Thinking Him to be the gardener, Mary turns to Jesus, whom she does not recognize. Jesus speaks her name and she responds. At the lowest point of our lives, we too, like Mary, need to hear Jesus call out our name. The name He knows and the name we are familiar with. Names give us our identity. God knows your name. Your name is dear to Him.
St. Paul reminds us that we are saved by the name of Jesus. There is no other name under heaven by which we are saved. Just as our own names have power and identity, so too there is power in the name of Jesus, the only son of God. Jesus is a Hebrew word that means “God saves.” God reconciles the world through the power and authority of Jesus’ name. prayer. Fr. Brian Steele
Reflection Question:
Reflect on the power of the name of Jesus. Reflect on the name you have been called. Hear Jesus calling out your name as He called out to Mary Magdalene that day of His resurrection.
Lord Jesus, thank You for the wonder and power of Your name. Thank You for the gift and beauty of my name. Thank You for calling me by name. Amen.
St. Mary Magdalene, the penitent, pray for us.
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