Pause for Prayer: TUESDAY 7/22

I love the painting above!  It's the work of James Tissot and brings us to the story of Easter morning: Mary Magdalene has been praying at the empty tomb and the risen Jesus appears to her and instructs her to go tell the apostles that he has risen from the dead. In the painting, Mary breaks into the Cenacle where the frightened apostles are in hiding and asleep. (Click on the painting for a larger image!)

Today, July 22 is the feast of  Saint Mary Magdalene.  Because Mary is the name of several significant women in the gospel accounts of Jesus' life, there has been some confusion around just who Mary of Magdala was - and wasn't! For an interesting summary of these questions - and a resolution to the dispute - take a look at this article from Vatican News - you may be surprised!

 

Mary Magdalene was the first to meet the Risen Jesus and the first to announce this joyful news to others. She is often called the First Apostle of the Resurrection -or- the Apostle to the Apostles. A prayer from today's mass sums up beautifully the life of this faithful woman, the first messenger of the risen Jesus:  known as The Apostle to the Apostles:

 

    It is truly right and just, our duty and our salvation,
        to glorify you in all things, almighty Father...
            through Christ Jesus, the risen Lord.

    He appeared in the garden
        and revealed himself to Mary Magdalene,
            who had loved him in life,
            witnessed him dying on the Cross,
            sought him as he lay in the tomb,
            and was the first to adore him, 

                newly risen from the dead.
    He honored her with the office 

        of being an apostle to the Apostles,

    so that the good news of new life   

        might reach the ends of the earth...

 

The gospel tells us that Mary stood weeping at the tomb of Jesus - but ultimately she becomes the apostle of joy.  Are you, like Mary, looking for joy through tears of sadness

 

Lord...

 

when I'm standing outside the tomb of my loss,

    wipe away my tears and anoint me with joy...

 

when I feel such a void in my empty heart,

    fill my soul with your presence and peace...

 

when I'm all alone and I fear you are gone,

    open my eyes and show me your face... 

when all seems shattered, broken, in pieces,

    mend and heal my soul with your grace...

 

and when I hear the gentle voice of your love,

    send me out to share the joy that I've found

        in your rising and promise of life...

 

Amen.  

 

This beautiful song shares the joy that must have been Mary Magdalene's on Easter morning. She went to the tomb still  grieving "the darkest day of her life..."  There's something in this song for everyone... 

Joy In The Light  by Joyce Johnson Rouse

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There is joy in the light of this morning
since I came to Jesus' tomb
where an angel standing before me
said "He lives" for me and you.

Yesterday was the darkest of my life
for I loved my Jesus so.
But, there is joy in the light of this morning.
He is risen, this I know.

There is joy in the light of this morning
as the flowers catch the dew
and I see in a new day dawning
that his words have now come true!

I believed every thing that my Lord said
but this one promise I had forgot.
There is joy in the light of this morning
there is healing in my heart.

They say the night is darkest just before the dawn
I came in darkness grieving, but now my grief is gone.

And there is joy in the light of this morning
though, I had cried all night.
In my heart i can feel the beginning
of a new and different life.

I must go now and tell the others

all who love to speak his name

that here is joy in the light of this morning

and I will never ever be the same.

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