Today's world news highlighted the total solar eclipse that was seen all over Asia and which will not happen again till the next 150 years, according to scientists. The best views appeared in China and India though the event was also experienced in Southeast Asia. The photo I copied here was actually taken in Varanasi, India today.The evening news here in Italy mentioned the death of 2 women among the crowd of Indians who flocked by the great river Ganges to rid themselves of the "impurities" believed to come with the experience of a total solar eclipse. Yes, there are still many superstitions attached to this scientifically explainable event. Unfortunately, we here in Italy did not have a chance to experience the eclipse -- it was 2 a.m. here when that happened in the other side of the world.
Liturgically though, I re-lived the historic and sacred event of "darkness and light" in today's feast of one of my favorite saints: St. Mary Magdalene. Known as the "apostle to the apostles," Mary was among the women who ran to the tomb of Jesus early morning, before the sun was up, with the intent of anointing the dead body of the Lord (cf. Jn 20:1-18). While searching for a fitting painting to accompany this short write-up, I chanced by a web page which shares beautiful paintings of biblical characters. Of the many choices in there, I picked out this one of italian painter, Gian Girolamo Savoldo (1535-40) depicting Mary while she was on her way to Jesus' tomb. The commentary on the painting goes: "It is very early in the morning, and at the left of the picture dawn is breaking over the horizon. But a much stronger light seems to be coming from behind Mary's left shoulder, lighting up her whole body. Her cloak is shimmering - Savoldo suggests the light behind her is stronger than even the light of the sun - and of course the viewer knows that this light is Jesus, resurrected."
Continuing with my meditation on Mary, I was also inspired by the patristic reading of today from St. Gregory the Great. This gives us a glimpse of Mary's "experience of darkness and light" as she searched for the Lord, the love of her life! This is a very good piece also in discerning whether our desires are holy ones or not. Read on and be inspired:
Continuing with my meditation on Mary, I was also inspired by the patristic reading of today from St. Gregory the Great. This gives us a glimpse of Mary's "experience of darkness and light" as she searched for the Lord, the love of her life! This is a very good piece also in discerning whether our desires are holy ones or not. Read on and be inspired:
"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.
At first she sought but did not find, but when she persevered it happened that she found what she was looking for. When our desires are not satisfied, they grow stronger, and becoming stronger they take hold of their object. Holy desires likewise grow with anticipation, and if they do not grow they are not really desires. Anyone who succeeds in attaining the truth has burned with such a great love. As David says: My soul has thirsted for the living God; when shall I come and appear before the face of God? And so also in the Song of Songs the Church says: I was wounded by love; and again: My soul is melted with love.
Woman, why are you weeping? Whom do you seek? She is asked why she is sorrowing so that her desire might be strengthened; for when she mentions whom she is seeking, her love is kindled all the more ardently.
Jesus says to her: Mary. Jesus is not recognized when he calls her “woman”; so he calls her by name, as though he were saying: Recognize me as I recognize you; for I do not know you as I know others; I know you as yourself. And so Mary, once addressed by name, recognizes who is speaking. She immediately calls him rabboni, that is to say, teacher, because the one whom she sought outwardly was the one who inwardly taught her to keep on searching."
