I went to confession this morning, perhaps appropriate on this feast day of St. Mary Magdalene, the standard-bearer for repentant sinners. One of the prayer petitions as mass was: “That St. Mary Magdalene might pray for us, and especially for those tempted by sins of the flesh.” I think that I and everyone in the church answered that particular petition a little louder than the rest: “Lord, hear our prayer.”
“When Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and did not find the Lord’s body, she thought it had been taken away and so informed the disciples. After they came and saw the tomb, they too believed what Mary had told them. The text then says: The disciples went back home, and it adds: but Mary wept and remained standing outside the tomb.
We should reflect on Mary’s attitude and the great love she felt for Christ; for though the disciples had left the tomb, she remained. She was still seeking the one she had not found, and while she sought she wept; burning with the fire of love, she longed for him who she thought had been taken away. And so it happened that the woman who stayed behind to seek Christ was the only one to see him. For perseverance is essential to any good deed, as the voice of truth tells us: Whoever perseveres to the end will be saved.
From a homily by Gregory the Great, pope
Mary persevered; she thirsted, and was satisfied. Lord, help me to persevere in prayer, that my thirst might be satisfied.
P.S.
On more mundane matters, my garden was also thirsting this morning, so I took out the hose and a bit of mid-summer fertilizer. Yesterday I did the first round of picking: a half dozen cukes and green peppers, and ten quarts of green beans. It took me most of the afternoon because as all gardeners are aware: When the harvest is ready and the laborers are few.
Your garden looks beautiful-much better than mine, although my harvest has been quite abundant!
ReplyDeleteSt. Mary Magdalene is my favorite Saint!
I have chosen you to join in a prayer MEME. You can learn more about it here-please consider joining in! http://annebender.blogspot.com/2010/07/my-three-favorite-prayers.html
ReplyDeleteThe readings today, Sunday, were on persevering. As God was about to destroy Sodom Abraham asked: What if there were only 40 good men, then if only 30, then if only 20, and then if only 10 --- and Sodom got destroyed. Fr Ed today wondered, what if he had persevered and asked: And what if there was only 1? Would his prayer have been answered? Job was the only just man in Ninevah, and it was saved.
ReplyDeleteRe my garden, the real test comes in the fall when I see what's under those tall carrot tops. For the past few years the below-ground crop never was longer than about an inch.
Re the MEME, I began thinking and writing on that last night, and quit after 4 pages, and I hadn't even gotten to listing my favorite prayers yet! Clearly this will take more time -- and editing. Thanks for asking me to do this; the memories of so many prayers said and answered were and are wonderful.