By Name

The WORD today (See http://usccb.org/bible/readings/072215.cfm) reminds me that Jesus calls us by name.

When I was new to community, i did not know a lot of people. Being a shy person, I was very hesitant to talk to the people in gatherings. I only talked to the ones I know. We were more than 60 who were new at that time, so I just spoke with my fellow newcomers. However, I was surprised and I felt special and welcomed whenever people would call me by name. There were a lot of us so I was surprised they know my name. And as I remained in the community, I made a conscious effort to get to know the names of new members, because I know it makes them feel special and welcomed.

God knows you by name.

What I felt back then was probably nothing compared to what Mary Magdalene felt in the gospel. She did not immediately recognize Jesus, but she did when Jesus called her by name. and I believe that’s what happens to us. We get to our senses and recognize Jesus talking to us and moving in our lives when he calls us by name, when he makes his presence immensely alive in our lives.

There may be times we feel so insecure or unappreciated by people around us. There may be times we feel so insignificant because of how other people treat us or make us feel. However, the gospel today should remind us how special we are. In the same way Jesus called Mary by name, until now he too knows our name and calls us by name. He uses people to reach out to us. He uses our situation to make us feel his protection, love and power. He uses everything he can to reach out to us and call us by name. and that should remind us how special we really are in God’s eyes.

May we always remember how special we are to God, and be sensitive when he calls us by name.

Father God,

Thank you for today. Thank you for another day to live. thank you for another reminder. Lord, thank you for knowing my name, and for calling me by name. there are times I do not feel good about myself. There are a lot of insecurities in my life. But Lord, your love is enough. Your belief in me is enough. You are enough for me. I ask that you never get tired of calling me and of loving me. and as I feel your love, may it enable me to love others like you love me. amen.

Blessed day!

In Christ,

-g-

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July 22, 2015

Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene

Lectionary: 397/603

Reading 1 Ex 16:1-5, 9-15

The children of Israel set out from Elim,

and came into the desert of Sin,

which is between Elim and Sinai,

on the fifteenth day of the second month

after their departure from the land of Egypt.

Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel

grumbled against Moses and Aaron.

The children of Israel said to them,

“Would that we had died at the LORD’s hand in the land of Egypt,

as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!

But you had to lead us into this desert

to make the whole community die of famine!”

Then the LORD said to Moses,

“I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.

Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;

thus will I test them,

to see whether they follow my instructions or not.

On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,

let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days.”

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Tell the whole congregation

of the children of Israel:

Present yourselves before the LORD,

for he has heard your grumbling.”

When Aaron announced this to the whole assembly of the children of Israel,

they turned toward the desert, and lo,

the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud!

The LORD spoke to Moses and said,

“I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.

Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,

and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,

so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God.”

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.

In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,

and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert

were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.

On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, “What is this?”

for they did not know what it was.

But Moses told them,

“This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat.”

Responsorial Psalm PS 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28

R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

They tempted God in their hearts

by demanding the food they craved.

Yes, they spoke against God, saying,

“Can God spread a table in the desert?”

R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Yet he commanded the skies above

and the doors of heaven he opened;

He rained manna upon them for food

and gave them heavenly bread.

R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Man ate the bread of angels,

food he sent them in abundance.

He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,

and by his power brought on the south wind.

R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

And he rained meat upon them like dust,

and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,

Which fell in the midst of their camp

round about their tents.

R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Tell us Mary, what did you see on the way?

I saw the glory of the risen Christ, I saw his empty tomb.

R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Jn 20:1-2, 11-18

On the first day of the week,

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning,

while it was still dark,

and saw the stone removed from the tomb.

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.”

Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping.

And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb

and saw two angels in white sitting there,

one at the head and one at the feet

where the Body of Jesus had been.

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.”

When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there,

but did not know it was Jesus.

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.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary!”

She turned and said to him in Hebrew,

“Rabbouni,” which means Teacher.

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.’”

Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples,

“I have seen the Lord,”

and then reported what he told her.