Tuesday, July 21, 2020

Fr. Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie, MSP - Homily for Wednesday Week 16 Ordinary time - July 22, 2020


WEDNESDAY 22ND JULY 2020
FEAST OF ST MARY MAGDALENE
Songs of Solomon 3:1-4 or 2Cor 5:14-17, John 20:1-2,11-18

HOW MUCH CAN YOU LOVE?

The book of songs of Solomon is a very romantic compilation in form of a love poem. It shows the love that exists between a lover and the one he/she loves. It is a form of romantic conversation between a man and a woman. The book is attributed to Solomon. A friend had once asked me how in God's name the book found it's way into the bible.
Mary Magdalene fits very well as a good spouse portrayed by Solomon in the first reading. She is the lover who did not give up until she saw the one her soul loved.
Mary Magdalene is recognized in the bible as the one Jesus cured of 7 demons, the gospel of John states that she is the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is also said to be the same Mary who was a sinner and Jesus forgave her sin. The Eastern church celebrates 3 different people called Mary. It is believed that she grew with so much love for Jesus because of what he had done for her. She became a real disciple of Jesus, caring for him and his disciples as they moved from place to place to preach the gospel.
She was present at the crucifixion of Jesus and she did not leave until she was sure Jesus had been buried. She loved Jesus even in death that immediately after the sabbath, she decided to go and anoint his body, it was then she discovered that Jesus had risen. She was therefore the one sent by Jesus to inform the other Apostles that he had risen. This was why she was referred to as the Apostle to the Apostles in the early church.
It is therefore a challenge for us all today. How much do we really love God for all that he has done for us? How much good can we do to show that we appreciate God? Mary Magdalene is a model. St Paul in the alternative first reading tells us that what will urge us to live a good life is if we love God. When we are able to think of what God has done for us, and the fact that Jesus died for our sins out of love for us, we will start living a new way of life, knowing that we have become a new creation in God. God help us. Amen.
Fr Michael Osatofoh Eninlejie MSP

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