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Friday, July 22, 2005

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St. Mary Magdalene


Song of Songs 3:1-4 or
2 Corinthians 5:14-17
Psalm 63
John 20:1-2, 11-18

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love always finds a way

"I will seek Him Whom my heart loves." —Song of Songs 3:2

Love can never be completely satisfied or complacent. Love by its very nature must be expressed, grow, and always find greater ways to bless the beloved. "Love following upon love" (Jn 1:16) always seeks the good of the other. Love, in a sense, is restless because love cannot rest until the beloved is well.

Love ignores personal safety and comfort. It always finds a way to increase the welfare of the beloved. Love seeks the beloved day and night (Sg 3:1-2). Love always seeks a way to reach the beloved, and if we seek to love, we will find (Mt 7:8). Therefore, love will always find a way to love the beloved.

This is the way Mary Magdalene loved Jesus. "The love of Christ" impelled her (2 Cor 5:14) to seek out Jesus. She had to be with Him, whether He was dying a gruesome death of an accused criminal (Jn 19:25) or risen in glorious splendor (Jn 20:16-17). This is the way Jesus loves us. We may be spiritually dead (Rv 3:1; 1 Jn 3:14), but Jesus loves us so much that He never stops seeking us.

"Love never fails" (1 Cor 13:8). If we love Jesus this much, we will find Him (Jer 29:13; Mt 7:8), and He will dwell in us and we in Him (1 Jn 4:16). Find the "Way" (Jn 14:6). Seek to love Jesus as Mary Magdalene did.

Prayer:  Jesus, You are Love (1 Jn 4:8). I love You so much. May our mutual love start a new fire of faith and love burning on the earth (Lk 12:49).

Promise:  "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old order has passed away; now all is new!" —2 Cor 5:17

Praise:  St. Mary Magdalene so loved Jesus that she remained with Him at Calvary when almost everyone else abandoned Him.

Reference:  (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.) (For a related teaching, order our tape on Love on audio AV 58-1 or video V-58.)

Rescript:  †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, December 20, 2004

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