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| “Magdalene” by Carlo Dolci, 1660-70 |
Reading
1: Song of Songs 3:1-4a
The Bride says:
On my bed at night I sought him
whom my heart loves
I sought him but I did not find
him. I will rise then and go about the city;
in the streets and crossings I will
seek Him whom my heart loves.
I sought him but I did not find
him. The watchmen came upon me,
as they made their rounds of the
city:
Have you seen him whom my heart
loves?
I had hardly left them
when I found him whom my heart
loves.
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Commentary on Sng 3:1-4b
This passage from the Song of Songs
described the desperate search of God’s faithful for the one whom they love,
the Lord. Not finding him close by, a search is made, and bystanders are
consulted about his whereabouts.
CCC: Sng 3:1-4 2709
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Or:
Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction
that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no
longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died
and was raised.
Consequently, from now on we regard
no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ
according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new
creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
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Commentary on 2
Cor 5:14-17
In this passage the Apostle
describes the transformation that occurs when a person accepts Christ and his
mission. That Christian no longer considers Christ in terms of what was
accomplished as man, but rather the spiritual dimension of the human person.
Life in the spirit is forged anew in baptism. The “old things,” the old
covenant, pass away, and new life and a new creation are brought forth in the
one reborn in baptism.
CCC: 2 Cor 5:14 616,
851; 2 Cor 5:15 605,
655, 1269; 2 Cor 5:17 1214,
1265; 2 Cor 5:17-18 1999
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Responsorial
Psalm: Psalm 63: 2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
R. (2) My soul is thirsting
for you, O Lord my God.
O God, you are my God whom I seek;
for you my flesh pines and my soul
thirsts
like the earth, parched, lifeless
and without water.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus have I gazed toward you in the
sanctuary
to see your power and your glory,
For your kindness is a greater good
than life;
my lips shall glorify you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
Thus will I bless you while I live;
lifting up my hands, I will call
upon your name.
As with the riches of a banquet
shall my soul be satisfied,
and with exultant lips my mouth
shall praise you.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
You are my help,
and in the shadow of your wings I
shout for joy.
My soul clings fast to you;
your right hand upholds me.
R. My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.
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Commentary on Ps
63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Psalm 63 is an individual lament.
In this selection we see the emotion of one who longs to be reunited with God,
separation from whom is like being cast into a desert without water. The singer
professes faith in God’s salvation, and expresses faith that the prayers
offered will be answered.
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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 imparting of the gift of the Holy Spirit, as 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
Jesus, who walked with her as man, to whom she had listened countless times,
that she did not want him to continue
with what he must do. This one statement (Noli
me tangere) provides an example of the love of Christ that helps us
understand his true nature as 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 a 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 part, 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
In other years: Saturday of the Fifteenth Week
in Ordinary Time
[1]
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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