Daily Readings for July 22, 2015

Memorial of Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord

1ST READING 

The Song of Songs is a wonderful canticle about the nature of love. God created love and it is good. It is something to be pursued. As we continue the walk of discipleship, let us pray for the grace to be loved and transformed by God, that we may love our neighbor and give witness to God’s love for all men and women.

Song of Song 3:1-4 (or 2 Corinthians 5:14-17)

1 The Bride says: On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves — I sought him but I did not find him. 2 I will rise then and go about the city; in the streets and crossings I will seek Him whom my heart loves. I sought him but I did not find him. 3 The watchmen came upon me, as they made their rounds of the city: Have you seen him whom my heart loves? 4 I had hardly left them when I found him whom my heart loves.

P S A L M

Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9

R: My soul is thirsting for you, O Lord my God.

1 [2] O God, you are my God whom I seek; for you my flesh pines and my soul thirsts like the earth, parched, lifeless and without water. (R) 2 [3] Thus have I gazed toward you in the sanctuary to see your power and your glory, 3 [4] for your kindness is a greater good than life; my lips shall glorify you. (R) 4 [5] Thus will I bless you while I live; lifting up my hands, I will call upon your name. 5 [6] As with the riches of a banquet shall my soul be satisfied, and with exultant lips my mouth shall praise you. (R) 7 [8] You are my help, and in the shadow of your wings I shout for joy. 8 [9] My soul clings fast to you; your right hand upholds me. (R)

GOSPEL

In John’s Gospel, Mary Magdalene is the first human being to be confronted by the reality of the resurrection. What a tremendous privilege this is for her. She tells the disciples, “I have seen the Lord.” This is a beautiful expression of the resurrection of Jesus – Mary Magdalene has seen him and spoken with him. In this life, we will only see Jesus with the eyes of faith. But as He tells Thomas a little later in the Gospel, this makes us blessed as well.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

Tell us, Mary, what did you see on the way? I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.

John 20:1-2, 11-18 (or Matthew 13:1-9)

1 On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. 2 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.” 11 Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb 12 and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. 13 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.” 14 When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. 15 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.” 16 Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. 17 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.’ ” 18 Mary of Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he told her.

Credits to: www.kerygmafamily.com