Daily Gospel Reflection for July 22, 2024

Join us as we reflect, ponder, and pray together inspired by today's Gospel.

I had an incredibly hard time choosing a Confirmation saint. In fact, I was not able to finalize a choice until the week before my Confirmation. The saint I ultimately chose is Mary Magdalene. She is lovingly known as the “Apostle to the Apostles.”

In today’s Gospel we read about Mary Magdalene returning to the tomb the day after Jesus is placed inside and the stone rolled over the entrance. When Mary returned to the tomb and found it empty, she ran to the other Apostles to let them know her fear that Jesus’s body had been taken. The men came and yet after a time the Apostles decided to return home. Mary Magdalene stayed and wept.

Jesus then appears to her, speaks to her, and yet Mary confusingly thinks He is the gardener. Jesus only has to say her name and she recognizes His voice. Jesus has to tell her that He has not yet finished what needs to be fulfilled, so she cannot cling to Him as she wants.

The reason I chose Mary Magdalene as my saint is because she had a past, yet Jesus healed her. She gave her most expensive treasures to anoint Jesus’s feet, and she gave of her talent to tell everyone about Jesus. All He had to do for her was to call out her name and she knew her Lord. She then raced to tell everyone she had seen the Lord.

Her example of following Christ is one we should all imitate. She trusted the Lord so much that she said yes time and time again. Jesus calls us by name, just like He called Mary by name in the garden.

Ponder:

Are we able to hear Jesus when He calls out our name, just like He lovingly called for Mary while she wept in the garden?

Pray:

Jesus, when You call our name, let us be able to recognize Your beautiful voice. Mary Magdalene, pray for us to have faith like yours to race to tell everyone about our Lord.

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