Catholic Mass Readings and Reflection July 22, 2024
Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
22nd July 2024 (Monday)
Psalter: Week 4
Reading of the Day
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Brethren: The love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised. From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 (R. see 2b)
R/. For you my soul is thirsting, O Lord, my God.
Gospel Acclamation
V/. Alleluia
R/. Alleluia
V/.Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.
R/. Alleluia.
Gospel : John 20:1-2, 11-18
Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early, while it was still dark, and saw that the stone had been taken away from the tomb. So she ran, and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb, and as she wept she stooped to look into the tomb. And she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had lain, one at the head and one at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” Having said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary.” She turned and said to him in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father; but go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending 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 that he had said these things to her.
Daily Gospel Reflection
Monday – Sixteenth Week of Ordinary Time
Guidelines: We find always many seek many things. But seeking can be intense and persevering only when there is a passionate love for what is sought
1. Today’s feast of Mary Magdalene shows us who is a true lover of Christ, and what happens when one loves the Lord. Her life is a consistent journey of love. What are the ingredients of this love? Transparency and Docility: She is docile to his healing touch and she is healed of seven spirits. Passion and thirst: her love is like a fire that burns ablaze; she loves him passionately and intensely. It is like an unquenchable thirst.
2. Intimacy and communion: she remains ever so close to him; she is in a deep encounter and personal experience with the Lord. She feels ever united with him. It is an inseparable union like the body and its limbs, like the vine and its branches, like the fire and its flames, like the candle and its light. Her intimacy is such that she cannot bear his separation. She misses him terribly. She weeps for him. She is around his tomb. She clings to him as soon as she recognizes him.
3. Fellowship and accompaniment: She accompanies him all through her life. She accompanies him in his ministry. She accompanies him on his way to the cross. She stands with him at the foot of his cross. She is present at his death, at his burial, at his resurrection, and during his resurrected formative period.
4. Service and sharing: She serves him and thus shares in his ministry. She is a true servant who follows the footsteps of her master. She is an active and generous disciple who serves her Lord and supports and enhances his mission.
5. Fidelity and perseverance: She is faithful to the end and till the end. She does not abandon him and run away from him in times of trials and troubles. She does not shy away from embarrassing or unpleasant and unfavourable situations. She follows him to the death on the cross. She follows him to his tomb.
6. Witness and mission: Her love is not a private affair or personal experience. It is missionary love. She undertakes the mission of bearing witness to the presence and power of the risen Lord. What she has seen and heard, she would proclaim to others. The new life, the love, the light, the power that she has personally discovered and experienced, she would transmit to others. She becomes a herald and channel of God’s grace.
Practice: We can summarize the whole life of Mary Magdalene in three aspects: Love, seek, and witness. What about our love, seeking, and witness? Is our love intense? Is our seeking constant and ardent? Is our witness integral and authentic?
