Reflection for Thursday, sixteenth week in ordinary time
Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
Today's Word
By
Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Rector and Parish Priest
Don Bosco Shrine
Lingarajapuram, Bangalore
John: 20:16
"Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, “Rabboni!.”
Today's reflection
Today we celebrate the Feast of one such person who deeply loved the Lord – St Mary Magdalene.
The Bible presents St Mary Magdalene as a woman who loved Jesus intensely and passionately.
She teaches us remarkable things for each one of us to Love the Lord deeper:
She Followed Him
Luke 8:2 presents Mary Magdalene as having been cured of seven demons.
Her experience of the Healing of the Lord, made her to Follow Jesus, in His ministry of preaching and healing.
Am I following the Lord?
All have us have, in our life, have experienced the power of the Lord.
But do I truly follow the Lord?
She was Persistent to seek Him
The Death of her Lord had rocked Mary Magdalene…
… and she seeks persistently, in the tomb where Jesus was laid.
Even though she witnessed an empty tomb, her heart longed to see the Saviour….” so she stayed outside the tomb weeping”(Jn 20:11).
Am I persistent to seek the Lord?
I have often had setbacks in my prayer life, work situations & aspirations.
But do I still persevere in looking for the Lord?
She was Single-hearted in her search for Him
In her search for Jesus, whom she misunderstood as a gardener, Mary Magdalene expresses her sincerity and frankness and single-mindedness – “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”
She sought no empty phrases or consolations…but the Lord alone!
Nothing and none else could suffice her… but the Lord alone!
Am I single-hearted in my search for the Lord?
I am sometimes content with fleeting pleasures, transitory consolation and momentary comforts in my spiritual life.
Do I rather be single-hearted in my longing for the Lord?
She was enthusiastic about Him
Once she recognized the ordinary gardener as her Precious Master, Mary Magdalene is enthusiastic and fervent about Him.
Nothing could stop her from proclaiming Him.
In the words of St Bernard, “she became an apostle to the Apostles”.
Am I enthusiastic in my life?
As a Christian, I have in me the influencing, the powerful and the salvific good news of the Lord.
Am I enthusiastic in sharing about the Lord to others?
Let us learn from St Mary Magdalene…
… her commitment in following of Jesus
… her persistence in waiting for Jesus, her single-heartedness in searching for Jesus, and her enthusiasm in telling others about Jesus.
St Mary Magdalene…
… is a beautiful model of being a Disciple
… is a wonderful example of being a Divine-Seeker
… is a classic illustration of being a Dispenser of the Good News
St. Mary Magdalene holds a unique place in the history of Jesus.
The One who rose from the grave of death, appeared first to her, who herself experienced a rising from the grave of sin!
She was the first (as per the Gospel accounts) to see Him alive and the first to hear His voice.
She became the first evangelist in Christian history.
She is the Mourner who turned into a Missionary!
Let us passionately love the Lord, like St Mary Magdalene,
… “’cos there isn’t an ocean too deep, a mountain so high it can keep…
… keep us away, away from His love!”
As Christians it is not enough that we “know about Christ”…
… it is more important “to know Christ” and to love Him!
May St Mary Magdalene help us to understand that “Love transforms everything!”
Love adds passion to any activity we do.
Happy Feast of St Mary Magdalene – the Disciple, the Divine-Seeker, the Dispenser of the Good News!
Happy Feast of Tender Love and Mercy to all!
God Bless! Live Jesus!