Feast of St. Mary Magdalene July 22, 2024

Fr. Rick’s Two-Minute Homily for the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
July 22, 2024, John 20:1-2; 11-18,
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/072224.cfm

Go To The Tomb!

Something I always do when I am home on vacation is spend a few moments with my loved ones who have died. I notice a sense of reverence overcomes me when driving to the cemetery.

It is a solemn moment standing over the grave of Mom and Dad, my brother-in-law, Tom, and my nephew, Craig, cousins, and relatives. All time stops. Loving memories flood my mind and heart.

Today, we celebrate the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene. Facing her fears of life without Jesus, she went to His tomb, much as we would after someone we loved died. We all have graves inside of us that we need to visit.

The death of our relationships with family or friends that we never reconciled fill those tombs. Or fears of facing the truth about ourselves fill those tombs. It was easier at the moment to bury them than face them.

Do not be afraid, my friends, whatever we buried in the past. When we peer into those tombs with Mary Magdalene, Jesus will be with us. She didn’t know it was Jesus at first but finally recognized Him when He called out her name, “Mary.”

We don’t have to analyze what happened or what we or someone did or didn’t do. Judging and blaming will get us deeper into the grave. However, something freeing occurs when we witness the event with Jesus at our side.

Our Lord asks us, “Why are you weeping?” We see ourselves and others objectively as He sees us by watching a past event without thinking or feeling. Just observe it, watch the event unfold with Jesus. As a result, something extraordinary happens to us. Healing replaces pain and sadness without effort. Try it. The Lord is with you.

Observing it with Jesus helps us to see it with His eyes and embrace it with His heart.

Hear Jesus call out your name and leave that grave forever.

Love Your Neighbor!

Fr. Rick Pilger, IC
pastor