July 22 2024: Bible Verse of the Day – Jesus to Mary Magdalene: I am Going to My Father and Your Father, to My God and Your God – John 20:11-18 – Tuesday in the Octave of Easter, Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
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.’” – John 20:11-18
Catholic Readings for Today
Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Today’s Bible Verse of the Day Reflections
Mary Magdalene had been standing outside the tomb of Jesus, shedding tears because she was uncertain about what had happened to His holy body.
Suddenly, Jesus appeared before her while she was still grieving, and she was deeply moved, crying out, “Rabbouni!” In response, Jesus instructed her to stop holding on to Him.
It is easy to imagine the intense emotional experience that Mary must have gone through at that moment.
She had witnessed the entire crucifixion, and her affection for Jesus was deep and sincere.
Seeing Him die would have been devastating for her, but to have Him suddenly come back to life and appear before her would have been a truly overwhelming experience. The flood of emotions she must have felt at that moment can only be imagined.
It is important to understand that when Jesus told Mary not to hold on to Him, He was not being critical or dismissive of her.
Rather, He was offering her beautiful guidance and direction in her spiritual journey and in her relationship with Him.
Jesus was communicating that their relationship was now going to evolve and deepen.
By saying that He had “not yet ascended to the Father,” Jesus was indicating that Mary’s relationship with Him had been primarily on a human level, where she had known Him in His physical form and loved Him with her human heart.
However, Jesus wanted more than just a human-level relationship with Mary, and with all of us. He desired a relationship that was divine in nature, where we could love Him in a more profound way.
Jesus was preparing Mary for His ascension to the Father, where He would take His place on the heavenly throne and establish a new and deeper level of communion with her and with all of us.
Through this divine relationship, Jesus could enter into our souls, and we could become one with Him. This was a beautiful and transformative message that Jesus was conveying to Mary, and it speaks to the infinite possibilities of our relationship with Him.
Mary’s willingness to let go of her human relationship with Jesus allowed her to embrace a deeper, more profound spiritual connection with Him.
This is what Jesus meant when He spoke of the divine communion that we are all called to. Through this communion, we are invited to experience a deep and abiding relationship with Jesus that transcends the physical and emotional limitations of our human existence.
It is a relationship that is built on love, trust, and faith, and that allows us to experience a true sense of oneness with Him.
Through this divine marriage, we can find meaning, purpose, and fulfillment in our lives, and experience the joy and peace that comes from knowing Jesus in this intimate way.
As we reflect on our own relationship with Jesus, it is important to remember that He is now fully resurrected and ascended to the Father.
This means that we can experience the full fruits of the Resurrection and can hold on to Jesus in a way that was not possible before.
Like Mary, we are called to let go of our attachment to the more human and emotional aspects of our relationship with Jesus and to embrace a deeper, more spiritual connection with Him.
At the same time, we must also remember that it is primarily Jesus who is holding on to us. Through His infinite love and grace, Jesus has established a deep and abiding connection with each of us that transcends time and space.
It is through this connection that we can experience the fullness of His love and mercy, and find healing and wholeness in our lives.
As we deepen our relationship with Jesus and allow Him to enter into our souls, may we be filled with a sense of awe and wonder at the infinite love that He has for us, and may we be empowered to live our lives in a way that reflects His grace and mercy to the world.
Indeed, today we celebrate the feast day of Mary Magdalene, one of the most beloved and revered saints in the Christian tradition.
Mary was a faithful disciple of Jesus and was among the women who were first to witness His resurrection from the dead.
Her unwavering faith and devotion to Jesus have been an inspiration to countless Christians throughout the centuries, and her life and example continue to speak to us today.
As we honor Mary on this special day, let us reflect on her witness to the resurrection and her unwavering commitment to Jesus.
Let us draw strength from her example of faith and devotion, and let us strive to emulate her courage and steadfastness in our own lives.
Above all, let us give thanks for the gift of Mary Magdalene, and for the many ways in which she has enriched our lives and our faith.
Indeed, the life history of Mary Magdalene is both dramatic and inspiring. Despite being considered a sinful woman in her community, Mary was drawn to Jesus and recognized that He was no ordinary man.
Through her encounter with Jesus, Mary experienced a powerful transformation in her life, turning away from her past and dedicating herself to serving Jesus and His mission.
Mary’s example teaches us that no matter how lost or broken we may feel, there is always hope for redemption and transformation through our encounter with Jesus.
Like Mary, we can turn to Jesus in our times of need, and through His grace and mercy, find healing and new life.
Mary’s witness to the power of Jesus’ love and forgiveness reminds us that no one is beyond the reach of God’s love and that we are all called to follow Jesus and serve Him with our whole hearts.
As we celebrate the feast day of Mary Magdalene, let us honor her example of faith and devotion, and let us strive to follow her example of turning to Jesus and surrendering our lives to Him.
Through our encounter with Jesus, may we too experience the transformative power of His love and find new life and purpose in serving Him.
Mary Magdalene’s experience of forgiveness and transformation is a powerful testimony to the transformative power of God’s love and mercy.
During one encounter with Jesus, Mary bathed His feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair, and anointed them with precious oil.
This act of humility and devotion was a powerful expression of her repentance and gratitude for the forgiveness she had received from Jesus.
Through this encounter, Jesus affirmed Mary’s faith and forgiveness, telling her that her sins were forgiven because of her great love.
This encounter, which took place in the home of a Pharisee, also underscored the message that Jesus came to save sinners and that all are invited to receive God’s mercy and forgiveness.
Mary’s response to Jesus’ forgiveness and love was one of deep gratitude and devotion. This is why she became such a powerful witness to Jesus’ passion, death, and resurrection.
As we reflect on Mary’s life and example, we too are called to respond to God’s mercy and love with humility, gratitude, and devotion.
Like Mary, may we never tire of seeking Jesus’ forgiveness and may our lives be a testament to the transformative power of His love.
Mary’s deep love for Jesus motivated her to visit His grave early in the morning, but to her surprise, she found that He had risen from the dead.
She became distressed and fearful that Jesus had vanished, but He appeared to her and said, “Do not cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father.
But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'”
This statement means to us now that since Jesus has now ascended to Heaven, we have the freedom to cling to Him as much as we can.
Let us Pray: Oh Saint Mary Magdalene, please intercede for us with God our Father, that our sins may be pardoned in the same way that Jesus Christ forgave your numerous transgressions. Through your prayers, our Lord answered and restored your brother Lazarus to life after he had died. May it be so for us as well. Jesus, I love you. Amen.
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