God saves his people; Moses stretched out his hand.
A Jewish legend says that when Moses stretched out his arm across the sea, the waters remained in place. They didn't roll back. They didn't form a path as the people expected. It wasn't until the first Israelite leaped into the sea that the expected miracle took place. The point of the legend is to underscore an important fact: Faith, not the outstretched arm of Moses, saved the Israelites from the Egyptians.
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How often are we guilty of sitting around and hoping for miracles to happen, rather than taking the faith-initiative to make them happen? Jesus said, "Everything is possible to one who has faith." Mark 9:23 "If you have faith the size of a mustard seed .
nothing will be impossible for you." Matthew 17:20 "Nothing will be impossible for God." Luke 1:37
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In epic style and with a superabundance of poetic detail, the authors of Exodus write down, centuries after the events themselves, the realization that God himself had saved his people. The waters of the Sea of Reeds engulfed slavery and marked the beginning of freedom in God; they set off the people of God from the people of idols; later, the waters of the Jordan allowed a free people to enter its new fatherland.
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This passing through saving waters is used in the New Testament to describe baptism; baptism is the beginning in the Christian of all true liberation, a passing with Christ from slavery to sin to life in God.
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Most animals have some form of intelligence, but by and large, they act from instinct. For example, cats and dogs would chase after anything that moves. It could be out of playfulness, but their instinct is to chase and hunt down the prey that is running from them. We human have a much higher form of intelligence, and with that higher intelligence, we should discern how we should act and not just act from instinct.
But in the 1st reading, we hear about how human beings can just succumb to their instinct and chase after their enemies without thinking or discerning just because they have the might and power to do so. Pharaoh's mighty Egyptian army of soldiers, horses and chariots and horsemen can just crush the unarmed Israelites in no time at all. They were so blinded by their instinct that they chased after the Israelites into the sea without thinking that the waters were separated by a supernatural power.
It was only when they got stuck in the middle of the sea that they realised that the Lord was fighting for the Israelites against them. But it was too late, that when Moses stretched his hand over the sea, the returning waters overwhelmed Pharaoh's army and not a single one of them was left. God has given us intelligence so that we can discern and think how to act and not just act from instinct. More importantly, we discern what God's will is for us so that as His children, we will be obedient to God and do all for God's glory.
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To belong to the family of Jesus depends not on a relationship of blood, but on having the family spirit. That family tradition is doing the will of God. He expects this of his disciples. This is clearer in the gospel of Matthew. He alone mentions that he stretched out his hand towards his disciples when he said, "These are my mothers and my brothers (V 49). The people he has called "an evil and unfaithful generation' (verse 39). Disciple is one who follows the call, lets himself be taught. He listens to what God wants from him and accepts the will of God. He does that in a complete change of mind He thinks differently. He accepts obedience and makes Jesus his guide and friend He shares in the joy that is given to those who belong to the family of God.
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Jesus assures us that what brings us close to God and makes us his relatives is doing the will of the Father. This is all that matters, more than ties of blood. This mission was the core and meaning of Jesus’ life and death. Let us pray that his faithfulness may also be ours.
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Prayer
Lord our God, you passed with your chosen people through the waters of the sea to a land of freedom; you lead us, your new people, through the waters of baptism, that we may pass with Jesus, your Son from death to life. Make us aware that for them and for us this passing was only a beginning. Stay by our side on the road of life that we may keep growing in the freedom of faith and hope and love through him who set us free, Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen
St Mary Magdalene
The Gospels all accord Mary Magdalene a unique place among Jesus’ followers. Her surname probably owes its origin to her birthplace, a town called Magdala near Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. According to the ancient and very plausible tradition in the Latin Church, Mary the sinner is synonymous with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus and with Mary Magdalene. This “Mary who is called Magdalene” was freed from seven devils (the seven deadly sins) by our Lord; “the sinner” lovingly anointed his feet; and according to St John she was “Mary of Bethany” (and thus the sister of Martha), who “sat at the Lord’s feet” and listened spellbound to his every word. The Eastern Church, however, venerates three distinct persons named Mary.
The Lord’s most ardent and loving follower, Mary Magdalene stood with his beloved mother at the foot of the Cross, witnessed his burial and was the first to see both the empty tomb and the risen “Rabboni” on Easter morning. Indeed, it was she who was sent by Him with the good news to the other disciples, a commission that earned her the title “Apostle to the Apostles” in the early Church.
Catholics revere Mary Magdalene as a pattern of the contemplative life and even of conversion. She probably died at Ephesus, but a French legend tells of Mary, Martha and Lazarus coming to southern France and converting the Provence district.
Reflection: “When you commit any sin, repent of it at once and resolve to amend. If it is a grievous sin, confess it as soon as possible” (St Alphonsus Liguori).
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Jul 22, St Mary Magdalene
The Gospels all accord Mary Magdalene a unique place among Jesus’ followers. Her surname probably owes its origin to her birthplace, a town called Magdala near Tiberias on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. According to the ancient and very plausible tradition in the Latin Church, Mary the sinner is synonymous with Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus and with Mary Magdalene. This “Mary who is called Magdalene” was freed from seven devils (the seven deadly sins) by our Lord; “the sinner” lovingly anointed his feet; and according to St John she was “Mary of Bethany” (and thus the sister of Martha), who “sat at the Lord’s feet” and listened spellbound to his every word. The Eastern Church, however, venerates three distinct persons named Mary.
The Lord’s most ardent and loving follower, Mary Magdalene stood with his beloved mother at the foot of the Cross, witnessed his burial and was the first to see both the empty tomb and the risen “Rabboni” on Easter morning. Indeed, it was she who was sent by Him with the good news to the other disciples, a commission that earned her the title “Apostle to the Apostles” in the early Church.
Catholics revere Mary Magdalene as a pattern of the contemplative life and even of conversion. She probably died at Ephesus, but a French legend tells of Mary, Martha and Lazarus coming to southern France and converting the Provence district.
Reflection: “When you commit any sin, repent of it at once and resolve to amend. If it is a grievous sin, confess it as soon as possible” (St Alphonsus Liguori).
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Introduction
Contrary to popular belief, based on a rather late “tradition” in the West alone, Mary Magdalene is not the sinful woman described in Luke 7. We know that she was from Magdala and had been cured by the Lord. She became an eager and loving witness to the Lord’s resurrection.
Opening Prayer
Lord our God, Mary Magdalene sought your Son with the impetuosity of a person who loved him deeply and who was afraid to have lost him. When she had recognised him, He made her a witness to his resurrection. Lord God, help us discover the presence of your Son in the people around us and may they recognise that Jesus Christ lives in us now and forever.
First Reading: 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18
Prayer over the Gifts
Lord our God, in these signs of bread and wine Your Son becomes present among us. Give us the firm conviction that he is alive among us and in us, that people may recognise that it is he who makes our lives meaningful and worth living. We ask you this through Christ, our Lord.
Prayer after Communion
Our God and Father, We thank you for this eucharistic celebration. We have shared the table of your Son; We share his life and love. God, may we also bear witness that your Son is risen and alive today. May our lives reflect the love and joy that he brought us, until we enter the joy of your kingdom. This is what we ask of you today through Christ Jesus our Lord.
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REFLECTIONS
John 20:1-2, 11-18
St Mary Magdalene: Apostle of the Apostles
Today, the Church celebrates the feast of the first witness to the Risen Lord – St. Mary Magdalene. She witnessed Jesus' crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection and was also the first person to witness the empty tomb. She was chosen by the Lord to announce the news of the resurrection to the other apostles, earning her the title "Apostle of the Apostles."
The first words of Jesus recorded in the Gospel of John are a question that Jesus asked the two disciples of John the Baptist: “What are you looking for?” At the end of the gospel, as we read in today’s passage, this question is repeated: Jesus turns to Mary Magdalene standing before the empty tomb and repeats the question with which he began his ministry, asking her: “What are you looking for? ”
The Gospel says that Mary mistook him to be the gardener, suggesting that their encounter took place in a garden. It is usually in the garden where lovers meet. Mary's response reflects her distress for her beloved, and Jesus reacts with affection, addressing her by name – "Mary," causing her to fall at his feet.
That is the essence of the whole gospel: What are we ultimately looking for? The desire and love that drives us into the garden is to hear God pronounce our names in love. To hear God lovingly calling us by our name.
