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Message of the Day
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Start living now. Stop saving the good china for that
special occasion. Stop withholding your love until that special person materializes. Every day you are alive is a special occasion. Every minute, every breath, is a gift from God
-- M. Beatrice Saunders
(Would that we could truly realize this before facing the prospect of an imminent death.)
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Readings of the Day
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Song of Songs 3:1-4b
Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9 John 20:1-2, 11-18 It was very early on the first day of the week and still dark, when Mary of Magdala came to the tomb. She saw that the stone had been moved away from the tomb and came running to Simon Peter and the other
disciple, the one Jesus loved. ‘They have taken the Lord out of the tomb’ she said ‘and we don’t know where they have put him.’
Meanwhile Mary stayed outside near the tomb, weeping. Then, still weeping, she stooped to look inside, and saw two angels in white sitting where the body of Jesus had been, one at the head, the other at the feet. They said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away’ she replied ‘and I don’t know where they
have put him.’ As she said this she turned round and saw Jesus standing there, though she did not recognise him. Jesus said, ‘Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for?’ Supposing him to be the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have taken him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will go and remove him.’ Jesus said, ‘Mary!’ She knew him then and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbuni!’ – which means Master. Jesus said to her, ‘Do not cling to me, because I have not yet ascended to the
Father. But go and find the brothers, and tell them: I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ So Mary of Magdala went and told the disciples that she had seen the Lord and that he had said these things to
her. USCCB lectionary
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Reflection on the Scripture
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“Tell me where you have laid Him and I will take Him away.” —John 20:15
God is Love (1 Jn 4:16), but He is not just any kind of love. He is “agape-love.”
Agape is the Greek word that appears in the Scriptures which means unconditional love. God loves each one of us perfectly and infinitely. He loves us even though we helped crucify His Son by our sins (see Acts 3:15; Catechism of the Catholic Church, 598). He loves us whether or not we ever love Him. He loves us even if we decide to never love Him, even if we decide to hate Him and be alienated from Him forever.
St. Mary Magdalene loved
Jesus with unconditional love. She asked to take away the dead body of Jesus (Jn 20:15). She wanted to hold His body even if He couldn’t touch, hear, or speak to her. To hold Jesus’ body would give her extreme pain, but she wanted to hold it anyway. She loved Jesus unconditionally. Do you love Jesus when He seems dead to you? Would you love Jesus if He never answered any of your prayers? (see Hab 3:17-18) Would you love Him if you never
felt Him? Would you love Him if He permitted all your children to die in one day? (see Jb 1:19-21) Would you die for love of Him (see Dn 3:18) even if He let you suffer terrible pain and disease? (see Jb 2:7) God is Love (1 Jn 4:8). Receive His love, and love Him with that same unconditional love. St. Mary Magdalene, pray for us. Prayer: Father, do in me whatever it takes for me
to love You unconditionally. Promise: “The love of Christ impels us who have reached the conviction that since One died for all, all died. He died for all so that those who live might live no longer for themselves, but for Him Who for their sakes died and was raised up.” —2 Cor 5:14-15 Presentation Ministries
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Spiritual Reading
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The Practice of the Presence of God: The Best Rule of Holy Life, by Brother Lawrence (1611 - 1691). Christian Classics Ethereal Library.
https://ccel.org/ccel/lawrence/practice/practice Tenth Letter Has difficulty, but sacrifices his will, to write as requested. * The loss of a friend may lead to acquaintance with the
Friend. Pray remember what I have recommended to you, which is, to think often on GOD, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone, who came to visit you: why then must GOD be neglected? Do not then forget Him, but think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him;
this is the glorious employment of a Christian; in a word, this is our profession, if we do not know it we must learn it. I will endeavour to help you with my prayers, and am yours in our LORD.
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