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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Fr. Mark Goring - wrestle till you're blessed --- Insistent Prayer - Fr Elias Vella --- Sunday Mass of week 17 in Ordinary Time, in YEAR C


Jeremiah 29:11  
New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
11 For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Jeremiah+29%3A11&version=NRSVCE


Ġeremija 29:11
[Ġer:29:11] Jien naf il-pjanijiet li ħsibt għalikom, oraklu tal-Mulej, pjanijiet ta' ġid u mhux ta' ħsara, li nagħtikom ġejjieni mimli tama. 
http://www.laikos.org/Bibbja-TQ.htm



 
 
Fr. Mark Goring - wrestle till you're blessed

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
Genesis 32:22-32  New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE)
Jacob Wrestles at Peniel




 ... Don't give up...in insistent prayer...Wrestle till you're blessed !...



CCR Melbourne - Fr Elias Vella - Insistent Prayer  








SUNDAY MASS of week 17 in Ordinary Time, in YEAR C.

Readings at Mass


Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading
Genesis 18:20-32

The Lord said, ‘How great an outcry there is against Sodom and Gomorrah! How grievous is their sin! I propose to go down and see whether or not they have done all that is alleged in the outcry against them that has come up to me. I am determined to know.’
  The men left there and went to Sodom while Abraham remained standing before the Lord. Approaching him he said, ‘Are you really going to destroy the just man with the sinner? Perhaps there are fifty just men in the town. Will you really overwhelm them, will you not spare the place for the fifty just men in it? Do not think of doing such a thing: to kill the just man with the sinner, treating just and sinner alike! Do not think of it! Will the judge of the whole earth not administer justice?’ the Lord replied, ‘If at Sodom I find fifty just men in the town, I will spare the whole place because of them.’
  Abraham replied, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this to my Lord, I who am dust and ashes. But perhaps the fifty just men lack five: will you destroy the whole city for five?’ ‘No,’ he replied ‘I will not destroy it if I find forty-five just men there.’ Again Abraham said to him, ‘Perhaps there will only be forty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the forty.’
  Abraham said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry, but give me leave to speak: perhaps there will only be thirty there.’ ‘I will not do it’ he replied ‘if I find thirty there.’ He said, ‘I am bold indeed to speak like this, but perhaps there will only be twenty there.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the twenty.’ He said, ‘I trust my Lord will not be angry if I speak once more: perhaps there will only be ten.’ ‘I will not destroy it’ he replied ‘for the sake of the ten.’
 

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 137:1-3,6-8
 
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
 
I thank you, Lord, with all my heart:
  you have heard the words of my mouth.
In the presence of the angels I will bless you.
  I will adore before your holy temple.
 
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
 
I thank you for your faithfulness and love,
  which excel all we ever knew of you.
On the day I called, you answered;
  you increased the strength of my soul.
 
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
 
The Lord is high yet he looks on the lowly
  and the haughty he knows from afar.
Though I walk in the midst of affliction
  you give me life and frustrate my foes.
 
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
 
You stretch out your hand and save me,
  your hand will do all things for me.
Your love, O Lord, is eternal,
  discard not the work of your hands.
 
On the day I called, you answered me, O Lord.
 

Second reading
Colossians 2:12-14
 
You have been buried with Christ, when you were baptised; and by baptism, too, you have been raised up with him through your belief in the power of God who raised him from the dead. You were dead, because you were sinners and had not been circumcised: he has brought you to life with him, he has forgiven us all our sins.
  He has overridden the Law, and cancelled every record of the debt that we had to pay; he has done away with it by nailing it to the cross.
 

Gospel Acclamation
Jn1:14,12
 

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Word was made flesh and lived among us:
to all who did accept him
he gave power to become children of God.
Alleluia!
 
Or
Rm8:15
 

Alleluia, alleluia!
The spirit you received is the spirit of sons,
and it makes us cry out, ‘Abba, Father!’
Alleluia!
 

Gospel
Luke 11:1-13
 
 
Once Jesus was in a certain place praying, and when he had finished one of his disciples said, ‘Lord, teach us to pray, just as John taught his disciples.’ He said to them, ‘Say this when you pray:
“Father, may your name be held holy,
your kingdom come;
give us each day our daily bread,
and forgive us our sins,
for we ourselves forgive each one who is in debt to us.
And do not put us to the test.”’
He also said to them, ‘Suppose one of you has a friend and goes to him in the middle of the night to say, “My friend, lend me three loaves, because a friend of mine on his travels has just arrived at my house and I have nothing to offer him”; and the man answers from inside the house, “Do not bother me. The door is bolted now, and my children and I are in bed; I cannot get up to give it you.” I tell you, if the man does not get up and give it him for friendship’s sake, persistence will be enough to make him get up and give his friend all he wants.
  ‘So I say to you: Ask, and it will be given to you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For the one who asks always receives; the one who searches always finds; the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him. What father among you would hand his son a stone when he asked for bread? Or hand him a snake instead of a fish? Or hand him a scorpion if he asked for an egg? If you then, who are evil, know how to give your children what is good, how much more will the heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’
 
 

 Mass For Inspiration - July 24, 2016







SUNDAY GOSPEL OF WEEK 17 IN ORDINARY TIME, IN YEAR C

11. Tagħlim fuq it-talb
(Mt 6, 9-15 ; 7, 7-11)


[Lq:11:1] Darba kien qiegħed xi mkien jitlob. Kif spiċċa mit-talb, wieħed mid-dixxipli tiegħu qallu: "Mulej, għallimna nitolbu, bħalma Ġwanni wkoll għallem lid-dixxipli tiegħu." [Lq:11:2] U qalilhom: "Meta titolbu, għidu,
             'Missier, jitqaddes ismek,
             tiġi Saltnatek.
             [Lq:11:3] Ħobżna ta' kuljum agħtina kuljum.
             [Lq:11:4] U aħfrilna dnubietna,
             għax aħna wkoll naħfru lil kull min
             hu ħati għalina,
             u la ddaħħalniex fit-tiġrib.' "

[Lq:11:5] Qalilhom ukoll: "Wieħed minnkom ikollu ħabib li jiġih f'nofs ta' lejl u jgħidlu, 'Ħabib, islifni tliet ħobżiet, [Lq:11:6] għax ġie għandi wieħed ħabib tiegħi mill-vjaġġ u ma għandix x'nagħtih.' [Lq:11:7] U l-ieħor iwieġbu minn ġewwa u jgħidlu, 'Iddejjaqnix; issa l-bieb magħluq, u wliedi qegħdin  fis-sodda miegħi; ma nistax inqum nagħtik.' [Lq:11:8] Ngħidilkom jien, li jekk ma jqumx jagħtih għax ħabib tiegħu, iqum u jagħtih kull ma jkollu bżonn minħabba l-wiċċ sfiq tiegħu. U jiena ngħidilkom: [Lq:11:9] Itolbu u jingħatalkom, fittxu u ssibu, ħabbtu u jiftħulkom. [Lq:11:10] Għax min jitlob, jaqla'; min ifittex, isib; u min iħabbat, jiftħulu. [Lq:11:11] Min hu dak il-missier fostkom li, jekk ibnu jitolbu ħuta, minflok ħuta jagħtih serp? [Lq:11:12] Inkella jekk jitolbu bajda jagħtih skorpjun? [Lq:11:13] Mela jekk intom, nies ħżiena bħalkom, tafu tagħtu lil uliedkom ħwejjeġ tajba, kemm aktar il-Missier mis-smewwiet jagħti spirtu qaddis lil dawk li jitolbuhulu!"





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Friday, July 22, 2016

Apostolic Constitution Vultum Dei quaerere on women's contemplative life, 22.07.2016



http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/07/22/160722a.html .

 
 
 
 
 Handmaids of the Precious Blood - nocturnal Adoration
 
 
 
 
 
Catechism of the Catholic Church

PART FOUR
CHRISTIAN PRAYER
 


SECTION ONE
PRAYER IN THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Sisters praying the Liturgy of the Hours .
 
 

 
Presentation of the Apostolic Constitution Vultum Dei quaerere - 2016.07.22  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAFq-HZtnb4




Pope asks monasteries not to "recruit" foreign nuns to avoid closing their monastery - Published on 22 Jul 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dsLuuAKfgio





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Tuesday, July 19, 2016

10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord o my soul ) - Matt Redman (with Lyrics and guitar chords)




                            (start singing B as open string)
Chorus:


G(B)        C                 G     D        Em
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul,

C                   G    Dsus4 D
Worship His holy name.
 
               C        Em      C    D   Em
Sing like never before, Oh my soul

     C                     D     C/G - G - C/G - G
I'll worship Your holy name.


Verse 1:

       C               G           D             Em
The sun comes up, it's a new day dawning;

C               G               D     Em
It's time to sing Your song again.

C                      G                    D            Em
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me,

C2             G                         Dsus4-D   G   Gsus4 G
Let me be singing when the even  -ing comes.


Chorus


Verse 2:

            C         G                         D         Em
You're rich in love, and You're slow to anger.
 
         C           G                        D         Em
Your name is great, and Your heart is kind.

       C            G                D                  Em
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing;

C2                  G                      Dsus4 D  G    Gsus4 G
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.


Chorus 2x, then Chorus chords with no vocals[ Tab from: http://www.guitaretab.com/m/matt-redman/288999.html ]
Verse 3:

        C         G                    D               Em
And on that day when my strength is failing,

       C               G                   D            Em
The end draws near, and my time has come;

C           G             D                            -Em
Still my soul will sing-Your-praise un-ending:

C2           G                            Dsus4-D    -G   Gsus4 G
Ten thousand years and then fore ---ever-more!


Chorus


Outro


     C                     D     Em
I'll worship Your holy name  (repeat this way until the very end)

          C                        D       G
Yes, I'll worship Your holy name.





Chords used in this song :
 
C

e ---|---|---|---|---|
B -x-|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|---|-x-|---|---|
E ---|---|-o-|---|---|
G

e ---|---|-x-|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|---|-x-|---|---|
D/F#

e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|-x-|---|---|---|
 
 
Em

e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|-x-|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
 
 
Dsus4

e ---|---|-x-|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
 
 
D

e ---|-x-|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|-x-|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
 
 
C/G

e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|---|---|-x-|
G ---|---|---|---|-x-|
D ---|---|---|---|-x-|
A ---|---|---|---|---|
E ---|---|-x-|---|---|
 
 
C2

e ---|---|---|---|---|
B ---|---|-x-|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|-x-|---|---|---|
A ---|---|-x-|---|---|
E ---|---|---|---|---|
 
Gsus4

e ---|---|-x-|---|---|
B -x-|---|---|---|---|
G ---|---|---|---|---|
D ---|---|---|---|---|
A ---|---|---|---|---|

http://www.guitaretab.com/m/matt-redman/288999.html




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JULY 22 - Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene - Witness of Divine Mercy --- Apostle to the Apostles

 
 
Witness of Divine Mercy
 
The first liturgical feast of Saint Mary Magdalene · July 22, 2016

On Friday, 22 July, the Church celebrates the Feast of St Mary Magdalene. With this decision, in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy, Pope Francis means to call the Church “to reflect in a more profound way on the dignity of Woman, on the New Evangelisation and on the greatness of the Mystery of Divine Mercy”, as stated in the Decree of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments, dated 3 June 2016, Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. By elevating the liturgical memorial to the level of Feast on the Roman calendar, given the special nature of this Saint, the announcement on 10 June was accompanied by a Preface entitled De apostolorum apostola, “apostle of the Apostles”, which presents Mary Magdalene as testis divinae misericordiae, “witness of divine mercy”.
 


------------
------------





Pope raises memorial of St. Mary Magdalene to a liturgical Feast equal to the apostles - Published on 10 Jun 2016







Adoration Changes Lives






 
 
Christ on the Cross between the Two Thieves - Peter Paul Rubens




  ===================================================================

 
Mary Magdalene
 

Mary Magdalene

The Woman Who Had Seven Devils

Name Meaning—For significance of Mary see the previous study. The present Mary is distinguished from all others of the same name as “The Magdalene,” which identifies her with her place of birth, just as Jesus was called “The Nazarene” because of His association with Nazareth. Magdala means “tower” or “castle,” and in the time of Christ was a thriving, populous town on the coast of Galilee about three miles from Capernaum. Dye works and primitive textile factories added to the wealth of the community. It may be that “The Magdalene” was connected with the industry of the town for it would seem as if she was not without means, enabling her to serve the Lord with her substance.
Family Connections—We have no record of Mary’s parentage, her marital status or her age. That she was free to follow Jesus in His journeyings would suggest that she had no home obligations.
Before we outline Mary’s life and character, we deem it necessary to disassociate ourselves from those who connect her with the unnamed woman “which was a sinner.” Luke, who knew her, wrote about this woman (Luke 7:37). The Jewish Talmud affirms that Magdala had an unsavory reputation, and because of the harlotry practiced there was destroyed. Doubtless it was from this tradition, and from the fact that Luke’s first reference to her follows the story of the sinful woman, that the idea developed that Mary was a prostitute, but there is not an iota of genuine evidence to suggest such a bad reputation. Those theologians who describe her as a profligate do her an injustice, just as calling institutions for the care of fallen women “Magdalen Homes” does. One writer defines Magdalen as “the inmate of a female penitentiary,” but the Bible depicts Mary as a pure, though deeply afflicted woman before she met Jesus. To suggest that she was dissolute because she was possessed by seven devils, is to affirm that every insane person is depraved. There is no word whatever in the writings of the Christian Fathers, whose authority stands next to the apostles, as to Mary having a foul reputation.
The Roman Catholic Church was guilty of fastening this slander upon Mary Magdalene when at Naples, in 1324, it established its first “Magdalen House” for the rescue and maintenance of fallen women. Great masters, taken up with the idea that Mary was formerly a courtesan, have provided art galleries with paintings of her as a voluptuous female. The name of the woman taken in adultery was graciously withheld, but with every reference to “The Magdalen” her name is given, and after her liberation from demonic influence appears as one of the most faithful and beautiful characters of the Bible. The wide acceptance of the tradition that she was a reformed prostitute is utterly baseless. Mary was only a sinner in the sense that we all are, having been born in sin and shapen in iniquity. “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” Having sought to relieve Mary’s name of the foul stigma attached to it, let us now outline her career.
She is mentioned fourteen times in the gospels, and from references to her we can see clearly what she did and how she did it. A striking feature in eight of the fourteen passages is that Mary is named in connection with other women, but she always heads the list, implying that she occupied the place at the front in service rendered by godly females. In the five times where she is mentioned alone, the connection is with the death and Resurrection of Christ (Mark 16:9; John 20:1, 11, 16, 18). In one instance her name comes after that of the mother and the aunt of Jesus. She stood close by the cross with these women, but because of their relation to Jesus it would not have been fitting to put her name before theirs (John 19:25). No woman, however, superseded Mary in her utter devotion to the Master.

In Demonic Bondage

Although Mary was a woman of high standing and comfortable circumstances, she suffered from the malady of periodic insanity. For “the seven devils” we should read seven demons. There is only one devil—and one is more than enough—but there are legions of demons, or roaming fallen angels, who possessed men and women—and still do! Seven is a mystic number suggesting “completeness,” implying that when the evil spirits dominated Mary the suffering was extremely severe. Afflicted with nervousness, she may have been the victim of violent epilepsy, and when Jesus saw her with her peace of mind and control of will destroyed she must have been a revolting object to look at with her disheveled hair, glaring eyes and sunken cheeks. Her demonic possession did not affect her morals, only her mind. Badness of character did not ensue, only the derangement of her mental faculties. Sometimes “love—misplaced and guilty love—has destroyed many women, first leading to insanity, and then to suicide.... Sometimes, too, women become victims of insanity by inheritance.” What weakness Mary may have had, making it easy for demons to enter her, we are not told. This we do know, they met their Master in Him who came to destroy the works of the devil.

A Liberated Soul

Luke links Mary with Joanna and Susanna and “many others” as those healed of evil spirits and infirmities by Jesus. As Mary is referred to as having “seven demons” her condition must have been worse than the rest. But the moment Jesus' compassionate eyes saw the wild-eyed and cringing woman of Magdala, He saw in her the ministering angel who would be a blessing to His own heart and to others. In His authoritative voice He commanded the tormenting demons to come out—and stay out—of her. “Back! back! to your native hell, ye foul spirits of the pit,” and the miracle happened. Her deranged and nerve-racked mind became as tranquil as the troubled lake Jesus calmed. Sanity returned, the rosy tint was restored to her cheeks, and she was made whole. Now, “clothed and in her right mind,” she was ready to become one of the most devoted woman disciples of Him to whom she owed so much. That she was deeply grateful for physical and mental healing is shown by what she endeavored to do for her Deliverer and His cause. Saved from the terrible power of hell, she gave of her best to Him who had fully emancipated her from demonic possession. When Christ saved her, He liberated the highest virtues of sacrifice, fortitude and courage.

In Journeyings Oft

Delivered, Mary became a disciple. Freed from satanic bondage she became harnessed to the chariot of the Lord, and her personal ministrations, along with those of other women who had been healed, greatly aided Jesus in His missionary activities as He went from place to place preaching and teaching His message. Grateful, these women became generous, ministering unto Him of their substance. Mary left her home in Magdala to follow Jesus. Constantly on the move as Jesus and His disciples were, there were many details in connection with their personal comfort and well-being requiring attention to which these women could see. Quietly and effectively Mary would do what she knew needed to be done. Further, money was necessary for the Master’s campaign work. We never read of Him or His disciples asking for money, yet funds were necessary. Much of it came from Mary and other women like her who had been so richly blessed of the Lord. Alas, not all who have benefited are grateful! Christ once healed ten lepers, but only one came back to thank Him for His grace and power. Emancipated, Mary helped Jesus to evangelize as she willing gave of her substance to help meet His needs. How much her personal presence and service must have meant to Jesus.

At the Cross

Mary went with her Lord into the shadows, and is thus represented as being among those who followed Jesus on His last sad journey from Galilee to Jerusalem. And as they followed, they still “ministered unto Him.” Mary was present with the other holy women at the mock trial of Jesus. No longer is He on the road with crowds gathering and hanging on His words. Fearless in His declaration and denunciations, He is arrested and tried for His life. Some of His intimate friends had deserted Him, but Mary and her band did not forsake Him. The poet reminds us—
Not she with traitorous kiss her Master stung,
Not she denied Him with unfaithful tongue;
She, when Apostles fled, could dangers brave,
Last at the Cross, and earliest at the grave.
Mary was present in Pilate’s Hall and saw and heard the religious leaders clamoring for the blood of Him who was so precious to her heart. She listened as Pontius Pilate pronounced His death sentence of crucifixion although he had found no fault in Him. She witnessed and wept as Jesus left the hall to be spat upon and ill-treated by the crowd thirsting for His blood. Then she saw Him led out to Calvary’s fatal mount to be nailed to a tree.
Mary was one of the sorrowing group of holy women who stood as near as they could to comfort Jesus by their presence in the closing agonies of the crucifixion (Luke 23:49). Mary listened with a broken heart to His bitter cries and watched through those dread hours until at last the Roman soldier thrust his spear into the Saviour’s side and declared Him dead. In the renowned picture gallery in the Louvre, there is a painting of desolation, despair and love. The artist has depicted the night of the crucifixion. “The world is wrapped in shadow; the stars are dead; and yet in the darkness is seen a kneeling form. It is Mary Magdalene with loving lips and hands pressing against the bleeding feet of Christ.” Yes, she was there when they crucified her Lord.
No sooner had Jesus dismissed His spirit than the question arose among the Marys at the cross, “How could they secure that blood-stained body, and prepare it for burial?” Joseph of Arimathaea and Nicodemus, to the relief of the sorrowful mourners, had come for that very purpose. The artist Rubens, in his masterpiece, The Descent of the Cross represents Mary Magdalene, and Mary the wife of Cleophas, assisting Joseph and Nicodemus in receiving the battered body from the tree, preparing it for burial, then placing the precious remains in the new tomb in the garden. Mary Magdalene remained “sitting over against the sepulchre” and “beholding” until Joseph had laid the Lord’s body away (Matthew 27:61; Mark 15:47; Luke 23:55).

In the Garden

Last at the cross, where Jesus died as the Lamb of God, Mary Magdalene was also the first at the garden tomb to witness the most important event in world history and the pivotal truth of Christianity, namely the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. What a great honor God conferred upon the faithful Mary Magdalene in permitting her to be the first witness of that Resurrection! She was at the tomb early on that first Easter morning, and as the light of earliest day filtered across Jerusalem, she peered into the cave. Seeing it was empty, she wept. Then John, the inspired genius who wrote in unusually terse Greek, describes what happened in a way unparalleled in narrative literature. Finding the grave empty Mary rushed to Peter and John, and most excitedly said, “They have taken away the Lord out of the sepulchre and we know not where they have laid him.” These disciples returned with Mary Magdalene to the tomb and found that what she had told them was true, then departed “to their own homes.” But not Mary! She stood at the door of the sepulcher weeping, and as she wept two angels appeared, one at the head and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain. Seeing her distressed and afraid, they tenderly asked, “Woman, why weepest thou?” Tremblingly she replied, “Because they have taken away my Lord, and I know not where they have laid him.”
What pathos is in the word “my Lord”—my very own Lord, the One who did so much for me, and whom I loved to serve. Turning away she saw a figure, and thinking He was the gardener answered in reply to the question: “Woman, why weepest thou? Whom seekest thou?”—in words most courageous &--;“Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.”
Mary, so full of her Lord, felt that all others must know Him whose body was missing from the tomb. “She never stopped to think of her own weakness as a woman: love nerves had to take it for granted she is able for the blessed task of taking the sacred body away.” Then one word from the Voice she now recognized uttered her name, “Mary”! That old familiar tone gripped her heart, and instantly she cried “Rabboni!” which was her strongest expression of reverent love. Casting herself before the risen Lord, she would have clasped His feet, but He said, “Touch me not!” Thrilled at having Jesus alive again, Mary’s love was of a nature which leaned upon the human presence of Jesus. Along with the other disciples, Mary, too, had to learn how “to rise to a higher and at the same time a nearer, but spiritual communion with Him.... Her earthly affection needed to be elevated into a heavenly love” (John 20:25-29).
Then Jesus commissioned Mary to become the first herald of His Resurrection. She had to go and announce the greatest good news ever proclaimed, “Go to my brethren, and say unto them, I ascend unto my Father, and your Father; and to my God and your God.” We can imagine with what speed Mary ran back through the gates of Jerusalem to tell the disciples that their Lord who had died was alive forevermore. Mary had stayed near to Christ in His journeyings, and had cared for many of His human needs until His corpse was laid in the tomb. He now rewarded her with a closer knowledge of things divine, and she was given an honor that cannot be taken away from her, namely, that of being the first among men or women to see the Risen Lord, and to receive the first message from His lips (John 20:18). Although this is the last glimpse we have of Mary Magdalene, we have no hesitation in assuming that she was present with the women (Acts 1:14) who assembled with the apostles in the upper chamber for prayer and supplication, and to await the coming of the promised Spirit. Upon that historic day, Pentecost, when a bequeathed Guide and Comforter came, Mary must have been caught up by His power and made an effective witness of her risen and now ascended Lord.
There are one or two important lessons we can learn from Mary of Magdala. First of all, in her we see what Christ is able to do for a woman. When He first met her she was an afflicted, tormented soul, but Jesus healed her of her insanity and also of the maladies of her soul, and made her His loyal and sacrificial follower. Have we been cleansed of demon-like sins? This is the application Alexander Whyte makes in his study of this Mary: “We do not know just what Mary Magdalene’s seven scars were. But for our learning, Dante’s own seven scars are written all over his superb autobiographical book”—
Seven times
The letter that denotes the inward stain,
He on my forehead, with the truthful point
Of his drawn sword inscribed. And “Look,” he cried,
When enter'd, “that thou wash these scars away.”
John Bunyan has the same number at the end of his Grace Abounding
I find to this day these seven abominations in my heart. Pride, envy, anger, intemperance, lasciviousness, covetousness, spiritual sloth—these were Dante’s seven scars on his sanctified head.... It is better to enter into Heaven with seven devils excavated out of our hearts as with a knife, than to have them gnawing in our hearts to all Eternity.
A further lesson is that of what a woman can do for the One who has done so much for her. Once Mary was healed and saved, she practiced her faith in following Jesus and ministering to Him and His disciples of her substance and witnessing to His death and Resurrection to others. Are there not a thousand ways in which converted and consecrated women can serve the Master acceptably. Mary’s gratitude and love manifested itself in devotion to Christ. She owed much, gave much, loved much, served much. Has He expelled Satan from our lives? If so, are we loving and serving Him to the limit of our capacity, daily witnessing to the power of His Resurrection?
 

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Jn 20:1, 11-18 -- "Woman, why are you weeping? Who are you looking for? - Mara, għaliex qiegħda tibki? Lil min qiegħda tfittex?


JULY 22 - Saint Mary Magdalen - Feast --- Santa Marija Maddalena - Festa
Evanġelju Mara, għaliex qiegħda tibki? Lil min qiegħda tfittex? Ġw 20:1, 11-18 Qari mill-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann [Ġw:20:1] Kien l-ewwel jum tal-ġimgħa, filgħodu kmieni kif kien għadu d-dlam, u Marjam ta’ Magdala ġiet ħdejn il-qabar u rat il-blata mneħħija mill-qabar. [Ġw:20:11] Marjam baqgħet ’il barra mill-qabar, tibki. Kif kienet qiegħda tibki tbaxxiet lejn il-qabar, [Ġw:20:12] u rat żewġ anġli libsin l-abjad, bilqiegħda, wieħed in-naħa tar-ras u l-ieħor in-naħa tar-riġlejn fejn qabel kien hemm il-ġisem ta’ Ġesù. [Ġw:20:13] Huma qalulha: “Mara, għalfejn qiegħda, tibki?” Hi wieġbet: “Għax ħadu ’l Sidi, u ma nafx fejn qegħduh”. [Ġw:20:14] Kif qalet hekk, daret lura u rat lil Ġesù wieqaf, iżda ma ntebħitx li kien Ġesù. [Ġw:20:15] Ġesù qalilha: “Mara, għalfejn qiegħda tibki? Lil min qiegħdha tfittex? Hi ħasbet li kien il-ġennien, u qaltlu: “Sidi, jekk neħħejtu int minn hawn, għidli fejn qegħedtu, u jiena nġibu lura”. [Ġw:20:16] Ġesù weġibha: “Marjam!”. Hi daret u qaltlu: “Rabbuni!” (jiġifieri, Mgħallem). [Ġw:20:17] Ġesù qalilha: “Ħallini, għax għadni ma tlajtx għand Missieri; imma mur għand ħuti u għidilhom li sa nitla’ għand Missieri u Missierkom, Alla tiegħi u Alla tagħkom”. [Ġw:20:18] Marjam minn Magdala marret għand id-dixxipli tagħtihom l-aħbar: “Rajt il-Mulej u tani dil-bxara”. Il-Kelma tal-Mulej R/. Tifħir lilek Kristu.


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