22 Jul
Sat
ST MARY MAGDALENE, Apostle of the Apostles
Songs 3:1-4a or 2 Cor. 5:14-17
Ps. 62:2abc, 2d-4,5-6,8-9
Jn. 20:1-2,11-18
(Ps. Wk. III)
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Aren't we all too familiar with "searching"? All our lives, we are always searching for a love of one kind or another – someone to love and cherish us. The lover in the "Song of Songs" was frantically looking for her beloved. She searched the highways and byways, asking people about him till she finally found him. We are no different from her; we, too, spare no effort to search relentlessly for our love. The intensity of our search can blind us till we fail to see that what we are looking for is right under our noses.

Mary Magdalene was so taken up by her search for Jesus' missing body that she did not recognise Him when He spoke to her. We, too, can fall into this trap, and it will take something drastic to wake us up from this stupor.

Jesus' calling Mary by her name made her aware of His presence. Jesus then sent her as His messenger to His disciples. Jesus calls us by our name to be bearers of His good news. Are we just as ready as Mary to be His messengers to disseminate the good news of the resurrected Lord?


Lord, we pray for the Spirit of discernment and openness to receive and respond to Your graces to spread Your good news to everyone.



DAILY OFFERING
Eternal Father, I offer You everything I do this day; my thoughts, words, joys and sufferings. Grant that, vivified by the Holy Spirit and united to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, my life this day may be of service to You and to others. I also pray that all those preparing for marriage discover in Sacrament the source of Christ's grace for living a fithful and fruitful love. Amen.

PRAYING WITH THE CHURCH
INTENTION
We pray that Catholics may place the celebration of the Eucharist at the heart of their lives, transforming human relationships in a very deep way and opening to the encounter with God and all their brothers and sisters.
Elaboration

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