According to the New Testament, Saint Mary Magdalene was a disciple of Jesus.
Invitation
May I take this opportunity to draw your attention to
the daily reading of the Gospel?
This invitation aims to share with you the joy
of the Gospel. Everyone, without exception,
can experience that joy by opening their hearts
to the healing power of God’s Word.
Available every day.
REFLECTION
In the Eastern Church, a clear distinction has always been made between Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany and the sinner who anointed the feet in Luke’s Gospel. In the West, since the time of Gregory the Great, these three have been confused. Mary Magdalene came from Magdala (on the western shore of the Sea of Tiberias). According to Luke, she was severely possessed and was healed by Jesus. She cared for him, together with several other women. She followed Him right up to the cross, was involved in His burial and anointing, and is regarded as one of the privileged witnesses to the Resurrection. It was she who was to convey the news to the others (John 20:17–18). She was therefore later highly venerated as a saint.
FIRST READING Song of Songs 3:1–4a
I have found the one my soul loves!
From the Song of Songs
Thus speaks the bride:
“At night on my bed I seek my beloved,
but however I search, I cannot find him.
“I rise, I walk through the city,
searching in the squares and streets for my beloved,
but however I search, I cannot find him.
There I meet the watchmen patrolling the city:
‘Have you seen my beloved?’
“No sooner had I passed them,
than there I found my beloved!”
INTERLUDIUM Ps . 63(62), 2, 3–4, 5–6, 8–9
My soul thirsts for You, O Lord, and my heart yearns for You.
You are my God, O God,
I seek You with great longing.
My soul thirsts for You and my heart yearns for You,
like parched fields for rain.
So I look up to the place where You dwell,
I contemplate Your power and Your glory.
Your grace is more precious to me than life itself,
my mouth proclaims your praise.
I will praise you as long as I live,
stretching out my hands to you.
My soul is satisfied with nourishing food,
my mouth will give You joyful thanks.
For You have always been my protector,
I take refuge beneath Your wings.
With all my heart I cling to You,
it is Your hand that sustains me.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia.
Tell us, Mary,
what did you see on your way?
Christ’s tomb, which was empty,
the glory of Him who has risen.
Alleluia.
GOSPEL John 20:1, 11–18
Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you seeking?
From the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to
John
On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning – whilst it was still dark –
and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb.
She stood outside the tomb weeping,
and as she wept, she bent over towards the tomb
and saw, in the place where Jesus’ body had lain,
two angels dressed in white, sitting there,
one at the head and one at the foot.
They spoke to her:
‘Woman, why are you weeping?’
She replied:
‘They have taken my Lord away,
and I do not know where they have laid Him.’
When she had said this, she turned round
and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not realise it was Jesus.
Jesus said to her:
‘Woman, why are you weeping?
‘Whom are you looking for?’
Thinking he was the gardener, she asked:
“Sir, if you have taken him away,
tell me where you have laid him,
so that I may take him away.”
Then Jesus said to her:
“Mary!”
She turned round and said to Him in Hebrew:
“Rabboni!”
which means ‘Teacher’.
Then Jesus said:
“Do not hold on to Me,
for I have not yet ascended to my Father,
but go to my brothers and tell them:
‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father,
to my God and your God.’”
Mary Magdalene went to tell the disciples
that she had seen the Lord,
and what He had said to her.
Encyclical of
Pope Francis
On Care for Our Common Home
present and future common good, this situation requires “that
decisions be based on a comparison of the foreseeable
risks and benefits of each possible alternative”. This applies
especially when a project could lead to an increase in the exploitation of
natural resources, emissions and discharges, the production of
waste, or a significant alteration to the landscape, the habitat
of protected species or a public space. Some projects, which are not supported by a thorough analysis,
can profoundly affect the quality of life in a locality through various aspects such as,
for example, unforeseen noise pollution,
restricted views, the loss of cultural values, or the effects of the use of nuclear energy.
The consumer culture, which favours the short term and private interests,
may demand overly hasty procedures or permit the withholding of information.
To be continued
Every morning at 1 am
The Bible text in this edition is taken fromThe New Bible Translation,
©Dutch Bible Society 2004/2007.
Reflections from Liturgical Suggestions for Weekdays and Sundays
Laudato Si English translation
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