22 JULY 08

TUESDAY AFTER TRINITY IX

22 JULY 08

LECTIONARY READINGS

Morning Prayer: Psalm 5; 1 Samuel 16:14-end; Luke 18:1-14

Evening Prayer: Psalm 16, 20; Esther 6; Romans 2:1-16

REFLECTION

Gospel: Luke 7:36-50

"Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now am found. Twas blind, but now I see."

I don't know about you, but the first stanza of the hymn Amazing Grace is so powerful in its truth. In much the same way, I find the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene full of hope. It is a feast that shines brightly to the world around us, as well as to those of us in the Church. It is a true story of a person, as woman, whose sins were very great. Not only was she caught up, for whatever reasons, in the web of the sins of the flesh, scripture says that our Lord also cast out seven demons from her.

In today's Gospel lesson we find Jesus sharing a meal with a Pharisee. Suddenly Mary Magdalene arrives with a box of ointment, weeping, and she washes Jesus' feet, dries them with her hair, and applies ointment. The Pharisee is shocked that Jesus would let this unclean woman touch him, or even be in his presence. Jesus tells a parable of a creditor who had two debtors. One owed much, the other not as much. The creditor forgives the debts of both debtors. The bottom line of the parable is that the debtor who owed much loved Jesus most because of the great debt he had that was forgiven. Jesus likens Mary Magdalene to the debtor who owed much.

Mary desires to be clean, to be forgiven, to be renewed and refreshed in our mind, heart and soul. The redirects her passions from those sins of the flesh to seeking out Jesus so that she might passionately find forgiveness and solace for our soul. She passionately shows her gratitude to Jesus by her actions.

What about you and me? Have we sought out Jesus with the same passion and desire to be cleansed of our sins, to be transformed into the likeness of Christ? Do our lives reflect Christ in such a way to the world we come into contact with that Jesus is The Way, The Truth, and The Life? Do our lives reflect the grace, mercy, compassion, and love that can only transform our hearts and minds from that which we have allowed it to become, to that which God would have us to be? Are we ready to clean out all the cobwebs and skeletons we harbour in the dark closets of our lives by shining the light of God's grace and mercy? Are our lives a reflection of Jesus in such a way that those around us passionately desire to seek out Jesus as St. Mary Magdalene did?

St. Mary Magdalene went on to become an Apostle to the Apostle on that first Easter morning. After Jesus ascended into heaven, she continued to be a vibrant and powerful witness to the people who knew her of the life transforming power of our Lord, God, and Saviour Jesus Christ. The Eastern Orthodox Church considers who "Equal to the Apostles" because of her bright witness of Jesus to the world. May we passionately follow after her example and seek to be witnesses to God's amazing grace!

Fr. Greg

THE COLLECT FOR THE NINTH SUNDAY AFTER TRINITY

Grant to us, Lord, we beseech thee, the spirit to think and do always such things as are right; that we, who cannot do any thing that is good without thee, may by thee be enabled to live according to thy will; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

THE SAINT OF THE DAY

St. Mary Magdalene, Penitent (1st century)

Mary Magdalene is mentioned in the Gospels as being among the women of Galilee who followed Jesus and His disciples, and who was present at His Crucifixion and Burial, and who went to the tomb on Easter Sunday to annoint His body. She was the first to see the Risen Lord, and to announce His Resurrection to the apostles. Accordingly, she is referred to in early Christian writings as "the apostle to the apostles."

Mary Magdalene, Mary of Bethany (sister of Martha and Lazarus), and the unnamed penitent woman who annointed Jesus's feet (Luke 7:36-48) are sometimes supposed to be the same woman. From this, plus the statement that Jesus had cast seven demons out of her (Luke 8:2), has risen the tradition that she had been a prostitute before she met Jesus.

Because of the assumption that Mary Magdalene had been a spectacular sinner, and also perhaps because she is described as weeping at the tomb of Jesus on the Resurrection morning, she is often portrayed in art as weeping, or with eyes red from having wept. From this appearance we derive the English word "maudlin", meaning "effusively or tearfully sentimental." There is a Magdalen College at Oxford, and a Magdalene College at Cambridge (different spelling), both pronounced "Maudlin."

THE COLLECT FOR ST. MARY MAGDALENE

Merciful Father, give us grace that we never presume to sin through the example of any creature : but if it shall chance us at any time to offend thy divine majesty, that then we may truly repent, and lament the same after the example of Mary Magdalene ; and by lively faith obtain remission of all our sins. through the only merits of thy Son our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Who liveth and reigneth with thee. One God, world without end. Amen.