Reflections on Scripture | Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene


Join Msgr. Don Fischer as he reads and delivers a short reflection on today’s gospel, followed by 3 1/2 minutes of contemplative music and a closing prayer. Msgr. Don hopes that today’s reflection on the gospel will empower you to carry the Word in your heart throughout the day.

Choose either the video or audio below.

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.

Reflection

The most significant thing that's happening in this gospel is not so much that a woman is the first one to know that Jesus has risen, but it's the message she has to give to the disciples. What Jesus is saying is that now when He returns to His father, that in a new way, His father will be our father.

His God will be our God. This father in God that lived inside of Him is now going to be given to each of us. She carried the message that would be the foundation of the church to those who would bring people into it.

Closing Prayer

Father, when Pentecost came and we were opened and filled with the Holy Spirit, bless us with a consciousness of this great gift. Truly, as you walk this earth with God within you. So we do the same. It is the heart of who we are as a church. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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Kyle Cross