Daily Prayers for July 22

Mary Magdalene

Mary of Magdala was the most prominent of the women from Galilee who accompanied -Jesus in his ministry. So devoted to -Jesus was Mary that, after his death, she returned to the tomb to clean his body. Finding -Jesus alive in the garden, she was sent to proclaim the news of his resurrection to the disciples, thus becoming “the apostle to the Apostles.” Although she may not have been acknowledged for her discipleship, Mary stands for all those who see and proclaim -Jesus as the risen Christ, bringing to others his gifts of peace, forgiveness, and justice.

O Lord, let my soul rise up to meet you

as the day rises to meet the sun.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit,

as it was in the beginning, is now, and will be forever. Amen.

Come, let us bow down and the bend the knee : let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.

Song “Take My Life and Let It Be”

Speak, Lord, for we are listening : call us, like you called Mary, by name.

Psalm 109:1 – 3

Hold not your tongue, O God of my praise : for the mouth of the wicked, the mouth of the deceitful, is opened against me.

They speak to me with a lying tongue : they encompass me with hateful words and fight against me without a cause.

Despite my love, they accuse me : but as for me, I pray for them.

Speak, Lord, for we are listening : call us, like you called Mary, by name.

Judges 18:16 – 31 Acts 23:23 – 35

Speak, Lord, for we are listening : call us, like you called Mary, by name.

A reading from the gospel according to John: “Then the disciples went back to where they were staying. Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where -Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, ‘Woman, why are you crying?’ ‘They have taken my Lord away,’ she said, ‘and I don’t know where they have put him.’ At this, she turned around and saw -Jesus standing there. . . . -Jesus said, ‘Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, “I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.”’ Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: ‘I have seen the Lord!’ ”

Prayers for Others

Our Father

Lord God, you reveal yourself to us in so many subversive and unassuming ways. Give us the eyes to see the miracles and resurrection that happen every day. Unclog our ears to hear you, and show us how to get rid of the clutter of our lives that we might make room for you. Amen.

May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you : wherever he may send you;

may he guide you through the wilderness : protect you through the storm;

may he bring you home rejoicing : at the wonders he has shown you;

may he bring you home rejoicing : once again into our doors.