Reflection for Wednesday July 22 Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene: John 20:1-2, 11-18

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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Reflection:

Do we agree that we are all sinners?

All of us are like Saint Mary Magdalene, for, like her, we too are sinners in need of God's mercy. Yet our sins do not define us, nor do they place us beyond the reach of God's love. Instead, Jesus continually calls each one of us to conversion, inviting us to leave behind our old ways and to follow Him faithfully for the rest of our lives.

Unlike Saint Mary Magdalene, who responded wholeheartedly to Jesus' call to repent, we oftentimes struggle to do the same. We allow ourselves to be drawn by the deceptive promises and sinful ways of this world instead of surrendering to the loving will of Christ. We chase after things that promise happiness but leave our hearts empty, restless, and longing for something more.

What do we truly gain when we follow the sinful dictates of this world? Nothing but emptiness, disappointment, and separation from God. Have our desires for worldly pleasures ever given us lasting peace or genuine contentment? The world may satisfy us for a moment, but it can never fill the deepest hunger of our souls. Only Jesus can give us the peace, joy, and fulfillment that endure.

But what if, like Saint Mary Magdalene, we humbly respond to Jesus' call and faithfully follow Him each day? What if we refuse to give up seeking the risen Lord, trusting that He will reveal Himself to those who earnestly search for Him? Then, even amid life's trials and uncertainties, we will begin to experience a foretaste of heaven. We will discover the peace that calms every fear, the joy that no sorrow can steal, and the contentment that only Christ can give.

Like Saint Mary Magdalene, let us never grow weary of seeking the Lord. He is never far from those who sincerely search for Him with humble and trusting hearts. No matter how far we may have wandered or how burdened we may be by our sins, His mercy remains greater than our failures, and His invitation to return is always filled with love and hope. 

Today, Jesus calls each of us by name, just as He called Mary Magdalene. The question is not whether He is calling, but whether we are willing to listen and respond. 

Will we continue chasing the empty promises of this world, or will we surrender our hearts completely to Christ, seek Him with perseverance, and allow His transforming love to lead us into the fullness of life He has prepared for us?—Marino J. Dasmarinas