“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” (John 20:15-16).

Like Mary, those of us in recovery were once plagued by the demons of sin and self-destruction that our addictions and unhealthy attachments caused in our lives and in the lives of others. And like Mary, we must learn to recognize God’s voice as He continually calls each of us by name to a new and exciting encounter with His unending grace and perfect holiness. Let Saint Mary Magdalene inspire us to respond to God’s promptings in our program of action today. And with each passing day, we will continue to die to our former way of life and rise into newness of life with Him.

Reflection Questions

• Consider sharing with others an encounter you had when you knew God was calling you out of darkness and into His marvelous light. How did you respond to His call and what did you experience?
• What people, places, or things are you still trying to hold on to that you believe God is calling you to surrender and be set free from?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Song of Songs 3:1-4b OR 2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 63:2, 3-4, 5-6, 8-9
Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18

Reflection by Kathy B.