WHO AM I TO JESUS? FRIEND OR CLIENT. (Homily for July 22, 2016. Friday of the 16th week in Ordinary time.)


Bible Study: Song of Solomon 3, 1 to 4 and John 20, 1 to 2 and 11 to 18.


Today we celebrate the life of a Saint whose true identity and personality has been the subject of much debate among scholars, theologians and even non-Christians. She has become like the proverbial Elephant being described by four blind-folded men. From any angle you stand, Mary Magdalene seems to take on a new identity.

For those who do not believe that Jesus was a celibate, Mary Magdalene takes the position of a very intimate friend. For those campaigning for female priesthood, Mary Magdalene takes the personality of a Great Apostle, who did even more than the twelve in publicising the fact of Jesus’ resurrection. For others, Mary Magdalene was no more than a repentant prostitute who poured expensive oil on the feet of Jesus and wiped them with her hair. Yet for others, Mary Magdalene was just one of the women who attended to the needs of Jesus during his public ministry and from whom Jesus cast out seven demons.

From whichever angle you choose to stand, one fact we cannot take away is that Mary Magdalene knew Jesus personally. She was his friend, not a client. Her love for Jesus was real. No wonder our first reading today comes from the Song of Solomon, a book in the Bible that uses raw language in talking about spousal love. Mary Magdalene loved Jesus as a woman would love her husband. When the twelve deserted Jesus at his arrest and crucifixion, she was there with him all the way. She came to the tomb alone to look for her love and she became the very first person to witness to the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

When she recognised Jesus, she used a personal name for Jesus “Rabonni!” Only a close friend would call you by a name other than the one given to you by your parents.

God has always desired that we should be his friends not his clients. But painfully, we tend to prefer to remain clients, we are always very official – concerned more about what we stand to gain from God than our relationship with Him. We are very much like the Israelites who quickly forgot how God freed them from Pharaoh and soon started grumbling for food.

The difference between clients and friends is this: Clients can never be satisfied, when they pray, they are always grumbling and complaining! But not so with friends, prayer is actually worship. God is always happy to hear the voice of his friends when they pray because he knows they are not there to complain. So now comes the question for today: Am I a friend like Mary Magdalene or just one of his clients?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, open my heart to love you more as a friend than anything else. Amen.

Good morning. Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you.

Fr. Abu


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