Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
On today’s feast of Saint Mary Magdalene, we have a great example of love for Christ that is good for us to follow. Mary Magdalene’s soul was burning with love for Christ, which kept her at Jesus’ side all the way to the foot of the Cross, even when many of his other disciples abandoned him and denied him. It was this love that brought her to the tomb early in the morning; she could not even wait until it was light, for it was still dark. Seeing the stone removed, she ran to Peter and said, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” But she again remains with Jesus and weeps at the tomb. As she wept, Jesus appeared, but she didn’t yet recognize him; she thought he was the gardener. It was only when Jesus said, “Mary,” that she recognized him and said, “Rabbouni,” calling him her Teacher. Jesus then said to her, “Stop holding onto 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.” She then went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and she reported to them what Jesus had told her.
Let us be inspired to love as Saint Mary Magdalene loved, to stay always at Jesus’ side, and to listen to him calling us by name. May we respond with love and recognize our beloved Jesus, and say as Mary said, “Rabbouni.” Let us seek to be taught by him as our teacher. Let us hold on to him in love, but when he sends us out, let us have the courage to proclaim to all we encounter the good news and say, “I have seen the Lord!”
Reflection by Br. Placid Dale, OSB
Posted in Articles for Ordinary Time, Daily Reflections