Biographical Information about St. Mary Magdalene[1]
Readings for the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
This passage begins with a prayer of Micah. He asks that the people (likely a remnant returning to the region following their exile in 537 B.C.) might be given back their historical lands and live in peace. Following the two verses not used in which the prophet proclaims that all surrounding nations will be in fear of the power of God, he continues with a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s mercy and forgiveness (“…and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins”).
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Psalm 85 is a national lament. The psalmist, in these strophes, recalls with thanksgiving that God has returned the people to their land and restored the inheritance of Jacob. The song asks for forgiveness and mercy from God who alone grants salvation.
Gospel John 20:1-2, 11-18
This selection provides 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:
“We should reflect on Mary's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: "Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved."
-from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great
There was a study done by the Harvard Business School some time back in which its alumni were asked how they learned to manage effectively. Ten percent said they learned from their academic experience, twenty percent said they learned by trial and error, twenty percent said they learned from their peers, and fifty percent said they learned from how they were managed. Most of those in academia find those numbers to be uncomfortable but those in business generally accept this as fairly accurate.
This study has broader implications for those who practice the faith. We suspect that if a study were done regarding what aspects of our life had had the greatest impact upon our own faith development the numbers would come out roughly the same but might be stated; Ten percent came from our academic training. Twenty percent by trying things we came up with on our own (developing our own discipline of faith). Twenty percent might have come from observing our friends and colleagues lived experience of the faith (Oh, the Saints would have fallen into this category as well) and finally fifty percent would have come from our experience fostered by our parents, their influence was probably the greatest single factor in our lives.
Ultimately, the faith we express is a gift from God; given without cost or merit. We learn that it is our responsibility to grow and nurture that faith to make it strong. Regardless of where the encouragements and examples come from, we must build upon the gift (initially given in Baptism) so that when it is tested (and we know it will be), like Mary Magdalene, we will be able to persist even when all others seem to have given up hope. As another predecessor in the faith told us in the beginning; “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved."
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene” by Lavinia Fontana, 1581
[2] Note – the first reading from Micah and the Psalm with its response are taken from the proper of the season (Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time # 396). The Gospel from John is taken from the proper of the day (Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene #603).
[3] After Links to Readings Expire
Readings for the Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene[2][3]
Readings from the Jerusalem Bible
Commentary:
Reading 1 Micah 7:14-15, 18-20
This passage begins with a prayer of Micah. He asks that the people (likely a remnant returning to the region following their exile in 537 B.C.) might be given back their historical lands and live in peace. Following the two verses not used in which the prophet proclaims that all surrounding nations will be in fear of the power of God, he continues with a prayer of thanksgiving for God’s mercy and forgiveness (“…and will again have compassion on us, treading underfoot our guilt? You will cast into the depths of the sea all our sins”).
Responsorial Psalm Psalm 85:2-4, 5-6, 7-8
R. Lord, show us your mercy and love.
Psalm 85 is a national lament. The psalmist, in these strophes, recalls with thanksgiving that God has returned the people to their land and restored the inheritance of Jacob. The song asks for forgiveness and mercy from God who alone grants salvation.
Gospel John 20:1-2, 11-18
This selection provides 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:
“We should reflect on Mary's attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tell us: "Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved."
-from a homily by Pope Saint Gregory the Great
There was a study done by the Harvard Business School some time back in which its alumni were asked how they learned to manage effectively. Ten percent said they learned from their academic experience, twenty percent said they learned by trial and error, twenty percent said they learned from their peers, and fifty percent said they learned from how they were managed. Most of those in academia find those numbers to be uncomfortable but those in business generally accept this as fairly accurate.
This study has broader implications for those who practice the faith. We suspect that if a study were done regarding what aspects of our life had had the greatest impact upon our own faith development the numbers would come out roughly the same but might be stated; Ten percent came from our academic training. Twenty percent by trying things we came up with on our own (developing our own discipline of faith). Twenty percent might have come from observing our friends and colleagues lived experience of the faith (Oh, the Saints would have fallen into this category as well) and finally fifty percent would have come from our experience fostered by our parents, their influence was probably the greatest single factor in our lives.
Ultimately, the faith we express is a gift from God; given without cost or merit. We learn that it is our responsibility to grow and nurture that faith to make it strong. Regardless of where the encouragements and examples come from, we must build upon the gift (initially given in Baptism) so that when it is tested (and we know it will be), like Mary Magdalene, we will be able to persist even when all others seem to have given up hope. As another predecessor in the faith told us in the beginning; “Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved."
Pax
[1] The picture used today is “Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene” by Lavinia Fontana, 1581
[2] Note – the first reading from Micah and the Psalm with its response are taken from the proper of the season (Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time # 396). The Gospel from John is taken from the proper of the day (Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene #603).
[3] After Links to Readings Expire
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