Memorial Bench for St. Mary Magdalene
Readings for Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[*][1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15
The children of Israel set out from Elim,
and came into the desert of Sin,
which is between Elim and Sinai,
on the fifteenth day of the second month
after their departure from the land of Egypt.
Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel
grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The children of Israel said to them,
"Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!"
Then the LORD said to Moses,
"I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.
On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,
let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days."
Then Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole congregation
of the children of Israel:
Present yourselves before the LORD,
for he has heard your grumbling."
When Aaron announced this to the whole assembly of the children of Israel,
they turned toward the desert, and lo,
the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud!
The LORD spoke to Moses and said,
"I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, "What is this?"
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ex 16:1-5, 9-15
Having successfully escaped from Egypt and Pharaoh’s army, the Israelites now find themselves in difficult surroundings with little food. In response to their plight, God provides for them through the auspices of Moses by providing Manna to sustain them. This “Bread from heaven” is seen as a gift from God, the manna is said to come down from the sky.(see also Psalm 78:25; Wisdom 16:20). This manna is later compared by Christ to the Eucharist he offers (see John 6: 31ff).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
They tempted God in their hearts
by demanding the food they craved.
Yes, they spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the desert?"
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Yet he commanded the skies above
and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
and by his power brought on the south wind.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
And he rained meat upon them like dust,
and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,
Which fell in the midst of their camp
round about their tents.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28
Psalm 78 is a historical recital recounting the encounter of the Israelites with God; their rejection of His gifts and the punishments for these rejections. In this selection the psalmist recalls the journey in the wilderness and the anger at God for leading them on without food. God answered their plea with manna (Exodus 16:1ff).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
This passage is St. John’s account of the first meeting between Mary Magdalene and Jesus following the Lord’s crucifixion. In this account we get a distinct picture that the ascension had not been completed but the Lord is waiting to deliver his final instructions.There is debate about when the Lord ascended to the Father. Clearly his last earthly appearance was fifty days following the resurrection. Most scholars believe Jesus ascended immediately following his meeting with Mary depicted here. His return and actions from this point to the Ascension (Acts 1:1-11) were to accomplish the gift of the Holy Spirit he had promised.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Much has been said about St. Mary Magdalene in scripture, in art, and in secular media. What we know of her and what our tradition tells us is grounded in sacred scripture. For instance, we are told directly that St. Mary Magdalene was one of the first to encounter the Risen Christ following his great passion and death. While she does not at first recognize the Savior, when he calls her name, she immediately realizes what has taken place and has faith. So intense is her love for him that she is told “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
In this very human reaction on St. Mary’s part we find great empathy with her. So intense is her love for the Jesus who walked with her as man, to whom she had listened countless times, she did not want him to continue with what he must do. This one statement provides an example of love of Christ that describes his essences as both true God and true man.
St. Mary’s example of love for Christ and faith in him has won for her a unique place in our own history of faith. She has provided an example of fidelity as she stood beside him when tensions with the people he loved were high. She demonstrated an image of perfect contrition for it is thought by some that she was the adulterous woman Jesus saved from stoning.
When we think of St. Mary Magdalene we often call to mind one who is devoted to the Lord in a very individual way. Where other saints show us the face turning out to the world, Saint Mary Magdalene’s is the face turned inward toward Christ in her love and devotion to him.
For our parts we hope for some measure of that very personal and intimate love of Christ. We are reminded in this example that a relationship both personal and intimate with the Lord is possible and that his mercy and love flows to us through this connection.
Pax
[*] The Gospel for the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene is “Proper” on this date superseding the Gospel for the day.
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is ” St Mary Magdalene” by Carlo Dolci, 1644-46
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
Readings for Wednesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time[*][1][2]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Readings and Commentary:[3]
Reading 1: Exodus 16:1-5, 9-15
The children of Israel set out from Elim,
and came into the desert of Sin,
which is between Elim and Sinai,
on the fifteenth day of the second month
after their departure from the land of Egypt.
Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel
grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The children of Israel said to them,
"Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!"
Then the LORD said to Moses,
"I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.
On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,
let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days."
Then Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole congregation
of the children of Israel:
Present yourselves before the LORD,
for he has heard your grumbling."
When Aaron announced this to the whole assembly of the children of Israel,
they turned toward the desert, and lo,
the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud!
The LORD spoke to Moses and said,
"I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."
In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, "What is this?"
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat."
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ex 16:1-5, 9-15
Having successfully escaped from Egypt and Pharaoh’s army, the Israelites now find themselves in difficult surroundings with little food. In response to their plight, God provides for them through the auspices of Moses by providing Manna to sustain them. This “Bread from heaven” is seen as a gift from God, the manna is said to come down from the sky.(see also Psalm 78:25; Wisdom 16:20). This manna is later compared by Christ to the Eucharist he offers (see John 6: 31ff).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28
R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
They tempted God in their hearts
by demanding the food they craved.
Yes, they spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the desert?"
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Yet he commanded the skies above
and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
and by his power brought on the south wind.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
And he rained meat upon them like dust,
and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,
Which fell in the midst of their camp
round about their tents.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Ps 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28
Psalm 78 is a historical recital recounting the encounter of the Israelites with God; their rejection of His gifts and the punishments for these rejections. In this selection the psalmist recalls the journey in the wilderness and the anger at God for leading them on without food. God answered their plea with manna (Exodus 16:1ff).
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gospel: John 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.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Commentary on Jn 20:1-2, 11-18
This passage is St. John’s account of the first meeting between Mary Magdalene and Jesus following the Lord’s crucifixion. In this account we get a distinct picture that the ascension had not been completed but the Lord is waiting to deliver his final instructions.There is debate about when the Lord ascended to the Father. Clearly his last earthly appearance was fifty days following the resurrection. Most scholars believe Jesus ascended immediately following his meeting with Mary depicted here. His return and actions from this point to the Ascension (Acts 1:1-11) were to accomplish the gift of the Holy Spirit he had promised.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Reflection:
Much has been said about St. Mary Magdalene in scripture, in art, and in secular media. What we know of her and what our tradition tells us is grounded in sacred scripture. For instance, we are told directly that St. Mary Magdalene was one of the first to encounter the Risen Christ following his great passion and death. While she does not at first recognize the Savior, when he calls her name, she immediately realizes what has taken place and has faith. So intense is her love for him that she is told “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.”
In this very human reaction on St. Mary’s part we find great empathy with her. So intense is her love for the Jesus who walked with her as man, to whom she had listened countless times, she did not want him to continue with what he must do. This one statement provides an example of love of Christ that describes his essences as both true God and true man.
St. Mary’s example of love for Christ and faith in him has won for her a unique place in our own history of faith. She has provided an example of fidelity as she stood beside him when tensions with the people he loved were high. She demonstrated an image of perfect contrition for it is thought by some that she was the adulterous woman Jesus saved from stoning.
When we think of St. Mary Magdalene we often call to mind one who is devoted to the Lord in a very individual way. Where other saints show us the face turning out to the world, Saint Mary Magdalene’s is the face turned inward toward Christ in her love and devotion to him.
For our parts we hope for some measure of that very personal and intimate love of Christ. We are reminded in this example that a relationship both personal and intimate with the Lord is possible and that his mercy and love flows to us through this connection.
Pax
[*] The Gospel for the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene is “Proper” on this date superseding the Gospel for the day.
[1] ALTRE
[2] The picture is ” St Mary Magdalene” by Carlo Dolci, 1644-46
[3] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
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