Responding To God's Grace - Daily Reflections July 22,2013

RESPONDING TO GOD’S GRACE

 

The figure of Mary Magdalene in the Gospel is somewhat mysterious. She is sometimes identified with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) from whom Jesus casts out seven demons and also as the first person to witness the resurrection (John 20: 1-2, 11-18). It is impossible to identify her exactly, barring some new evidence or texts coming to light that would help in this task.

       As we honor her commitment to the Lord today, we can do so under many different senses. Let us focus on her willingness to let go of an old way of life and embrace a new one. This combines the witness of the two texts above in demonstrating that she moves from a life of sin (as an adulteress, which she does not deny) to a life of witness (God chose her to be the first witness of the resurrection). This is an enormous change, similar to that of Paul of Tarsus in its magnitude.

       The reason I want to focus on this is because it can be a source of hope and consolation for us — that nothing is impossible with God. It does not matter where we have been and what we have done; what matters is whether or not we are willing to repent and change our lives for the better. This is the essence of conversion. If it is possible for Mary Magdalene (and for Paul for that matter), then it is also possible for us.

       Despair, which is a great enemy of the Gospel and conversion, makes us lose sight of the power of God to transform our lives. In the story of Mary Magdalene, we see the power of God very clearly and, thus, have a clear antidote to despair. If God has done this marvelous work in her life, then He has the power to do it in ours as well. This is the Good News of our salvation. Let us proclaim it to everyone. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Are you prone to despair in your life? Do you ever fall into the “stinking thinking” that your sins are just too many and too big for God to deal with?

 

Jesus, transform my life. Help me to believe and trust that, no matter what sins I have committed or may commit in the future, Your love is big enough to forgive me.