Festival of St. Mary Magdalene
Posted on July 22, 2023 by under
Scripture: St. Mark 9:43-50 (NKJV)
9:43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—44 where
‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched—46 where
‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire—48 where
‘Their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.’
49 “For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. 50 Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.”
Devotion
Today’s text once again presents the challenge of understanding the eternal spiritual realm within the context of our short earthly existence. The verses are heavy with extreme imagery to drive home the eternal mystery of God and His heavenly kingdom to creatures who know (outside of grace and faith) only this world and its fleshly realities. It is not that the Lord necessarily intends anyone to sever appendages and gouge out organs to avoid sin, because Scripture is clear that what makes a man unclean is his heart and what comes out of him because of this unfathomably dark and treacherous organ (Jer. 17:9). We need to focus also on the end of this text, where salt is presented as a quality of the true believer. No Levitical sacrifice was offered to God without being seasoned with salt, which was a purifying element that fought decay and putrefaction.
All the verses in this text are meant to help us understand that the Christian will face trials and tribulations in this life. Some from the world, self, and the devil; others from God to test and sanctify us in the faith. The statement of being “seasoned” points out that the trials and tests of this earthly life are a tool and mechanism to strengthen and sharpen the faith which will make the believer a sanctified, holy offering and servant of the Lord.
Prayer: Lord of all power and might, Who art the Author and Giver of all good things: Graft in our hearts the love of Thy Name, increase in us true religion, nourish us with all goodness, and of Thy great mercy keep us in the same; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Collect for the Festival of St. Mary Magdalene
O gracious God, who didst work repentance and faith in the heart of St. Mary, so lead us by the working of Thy Holy Spirit that we may walk before Thee in repentance all our days and have consolation through the absolution which Thou dost grant to be proclaimed unto Thy Church; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
