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| “Magdalene” by Carlo Dolci, 1660-70 |
Note: The Gospel for this Memorial is from the Proper
Reading 1: Exodus
16:1-5, 9-15
The children of Israel
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
"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
for they did not know what it
was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread which
the LORD has given you to eat."
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Commentary on Ex 16:1-5, 9-15
Having
successfully escaped from Egypt
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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.
CCC: Jn 20:1 2174;
Jn 20:2 640;
Jn 20:11-18 641;
Jn 20:13 640;
Jn 20:14-15 645,
659; Jn 20:14 645;
Jn 20:16 645;
Jn 20:17 443,
645, 654, 660, 2795
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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
[2]
The picture is “Magdalene” by Carlo Dolci, 1660-70
[3]
The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the
Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for
English in Liturgy (ICEL). This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and
is for private use only.
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