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Today's Gospel + short theological explanation

July 22nd: Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
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Gospel text (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 (…). As she wept (…) she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus (…). Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "(…) 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.

St. Mary Magdalene

EDITORIAL TEAM evangeli.net (based on texts by Benedict XVI) (Città del Vaticano, Vatican)

Today, we celebrate the festivity of St. Mary Magdalene, disciple of the Lord, who occupies a prominent place in the Gospels. Saint Luke lists her among the women who followed Jesus, after having been "cured of evil spirits and diseases".

Together with the Blessed Mother and the beloved disciple, Magdalene picked up Jesus’ last breath on the Cross while bearing witness of His spear pierced side: she understood her salvation was in His sacrifice. She discovered —Sunday morning— the empty tomb, next to which she remained crying until Jesus Christ resurrected appeared. He wanted to entrust her with the first announcement to the Apostles of the Paschal Joy (she acted as "Apostle of the Apostles").

—St. Mary Magdalene: you teach us that the disciple of Christ is who —in the experience of weakness— had the humility to ask for help, was healed by Him and closely followed Him. Thus, we became witnesses to the power of His merciful love, stronger than sin and death.