The National Eucharistic Congress just took place over the past several days here in the United States. As some might know, it is the first congress happening in 83 years! Although I am not able to attend, I look forward to hearing about the outpouring of graces and fruits from this monumental time of revival.
Just this past year, I was gifted the book “Saint Mary Magdalene: Prophetess of Eucharistic Love” authored by Fr Sean Davidson. In celebrating this Feast Day of St Mary Magdalene and the revival of Our Eucharistic Lord, I thought it would be most fitting to reference the book.
When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. John 20:14
Fr. Davidsons’ on Mary Magdalene
Fr Sean Davidson writes the following. “In the empty tomb, Mary had to turn twice in order to see the Risen Lord. She turned a first time but for some reason did not recognize him. Was it that she was blinded by the rising sun at his back? Or was it that she was simply prevented from recognizing him, as were the disciples of Emmaus? It is a mystery. We also have to make a double ‘interior turn’ toward the Risen Lord in order to recognize him today, truly present in the Eucharist.
The Risen Conqueror is alive and present in the Blessed Sacrament today and he waits for you! Thanks to the eucharistic mystery, the Resurrection is now! Every day upon our altars the sacramental species is raised up from being dead matter into becoming the living presence of him who sits at the right hand of the Father. Do you understand how good this news is? If you were to let this truth take hold of your heart, I think you would drop this book right now and run like Mary Magdalene to your nearest adoration chapel…” page 188-190.
We have already ‘turned’ to the Lord Jesus once, so to speak; we go to Mass and come into his Real Presence in the Eucharist so often, but have we made that second interior turn which allows us to truly see him present behind the eucharistic veil? We have to turn toward him not with the senses, not just with our physical vision, but with the vision of the heart. We need to pray to the Holy Spirit to anoint the faculties of our souls, that our intellect may have the spiritual vision of a faith that pierces the eucharistic appearances and glimpses the Face of the Risen Lord. We all need to have this holy shock of the Real Presence, the moment in which we come to know truly that Christ is present in the Blessed Sacrament. This is a moment that changes our entire lives and opens our souls to a new outpouring of grace and of Easter Joy…
Clinging to Jesus
Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. John 20:17
How sweet Mary was to cling to her Creator and Beloved. As a man clings to his wife in marriage, we must hold a special attention and devotion to Our Lord, who is all powerful and loving. Fr Sean Davidson continues, “What could be more normal for one who truly believes in the eucharistic Presence of Christ than to go and spend as much time with him as he possibly can? We should try to cling to his presence with love in the same way that Magdalene did, as soon as she knew it was really him… If we do not get excited about the Real Presence of Christ in the Blessed Sacrament, then perhaps the full significance of this truth has not yet fully sunk into our minds and hearts.” page 191.
Learning from St Mary Magdalene
We have a lot to learn from St Mary Magdalene. Her faith was new and emerging when she first encountered Jesus. As a Father, Jesus healed her from her past and cultivated a relationship with her. She may have spent more time at his feet, enjoying his presence, rather than helping Martha with the chores. Yet again, her faith is evident at Christ’s death. She didn’t know what to do when her Beloved was taken from the cross, so she did the one thing she could. She returned to Him at the tomb. She came to be “at his feet” but had a far greater encounter with the Risen Lord. I hope this week, we can be inspired by St Mary Magdalene’s faith and how greatly she adored the Lord. Maybe consider purchasing this book and reading it before the Blessed Sacrament. I am certain God will lead you to ponder his deep, unconditional love for you.
[Readings: Song of Songs 3:1-4B; John 20:1-2, 11-18]
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