The Dark and the Seeking

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

“Early in the morning, while it was still dark…”

My brothers and sisters, if you want to know what real, fierce, unbroken love looks like, you don’t have to look any further than Mary Magdalene standing outside that empty tomb. John’s Gospel doesn’t start the Resurrection story in the bright, blinding light of victory. It starts in the heavy, suffocating darkness of grief.

And there she is. Our first reading from the Song of Songs describes her heart perfectly: “On my bed at night I sought him whom my heart loves; I sought him but I did not find him.”

Mary was seeking. Her world had completely shattered. The man who had delivered her from the horrific torment of seven demons—the one who gave her back her life, her dignity, and her purpose—was dead, brutally executed. The rest of the guys, the Apostles, had retreated behind locked doors, paralyzed by fear. But love doesn’t calculate. Love doesn’t hide. Love acts. Even when it makes no logical sense, even when she thinks she’s only going to tend to a corpse, her loyalty forces her to move.

Righting a Historical Wrong

Now, I have to stop right here because I want to knock this out of the park for her today. I love Mary Magdalene. She is genuinely one of my absolute favorite people in the entire Bible. When I get to heaven, after I see our Lord, she is one of the very first people I want to sit down with, pour a couple of cups of coffee, and just listen to her talk.

Because what a journey she had! To go from where she started to where she ended up is one of the most stunning stories of redemption in human history.

And yet, look at what we did to her. In the late sixth century, a pope gave a famous sermon and made a tragic mistake. He completely conflated Mary with the anonymous sinful woman in Luke 7 and Mary of Bethany. With that one homily, centuries of church tradition erroneously branded her a penitent prostitute. She was slandered. She was lied about. Her true identity was buried under fifteen hundred years of bad art and misplaced labels.

But Mary didn’t let the slander win. She is still a hero to thousands of us today because Scripture tells the real truth. She wasn’t who they said she was. She was a woman of means who funded Jesus’ ministry. She was a pillar of the early Church. And Jesus didn’t care about the labels the world—or even institutional human error—would later try to pin on her. He knew her true heart.

The Sound of Her Name

Look at the garden on that morning. Mary is weeping, completely blind with tears. She sees angels and doesn’t even care; she just wants her Lord. She turns around and sees Jesus standing there, but she thinks He’s the gardener. She asks the question so many of us ask when we are walking through the dark: “Where have you put Him?”

And Jesus doesn’t give her a deep theological lecture. He doesn’t explain the mechanics of the Resurrection. He just speaks one single word. He says her name:

“Mary.”

He spoke her name. And in the unique, beautiful cadence of the Master’s voice, the darkness vanished. She turns and cries out, “Rabbouni!”—Teacher! In an instant, the old has passed away, and the new creation has come. By speaking her name, Jesus re-created her entire world.

The First Preacher

And then He tells her something incredible: “Do not hold on to me… but go to my brothers and tell them…”

My brothers and sisters, this is the exact moment the spirit of the Order of Preachers was born. This is why Saint Mary Magdalene is the proud Patroness of our Order! Long before the Apostles were sent out into the world, a woman was sent by Christ Himself. She was given a direct command to preach the Resurrection to the very men who would become the pillars of the Church. Thomas Aquinas gave her the title Apostolorum Apostola—the Apostle to the Apostles.

And look at what she preached. She didn’t go back to the disciples to debate theology or argue Church law. She ran to them, breathless, her heart on fire, and gave them her raw, personal witness:

“I have seen the Lord!”

Our Dominican Calling

That is the heart of who we are as Dominicans. We don’t preach dry, dusty theories. True preaching is the overflow of our contemplation. It’s what happens when we encounter the Risen Christ in the quiet, pre-dawn hours of our own lives, hear Him call us by our name, and then run out into a hurting world to say, “I have seen Him! He is alive!”

Mary Magdalene is a hero because she stayed at the foot of the Cross when others ran, she sought Him in the dark when all hope seemed dead, and she carried the torch of the Gospel when the world was entirely consumed by night.

One day, by God’s grace, we’ll get to sit down at that heavenly banquet and hear her tell the story herself. But until that day comes, we honor her legacy by doing exactly what she did: lifting up our voices, standing tall against the lies of the world, and boldly proclaiming the truth of the Resurrection.

Saint Mary Magdalene, Patroness of our Order, pray for us.

I often find immense joy in looking deeply at the lives of the saints who grace our altars and inspire our faith. Today, I want to shine a bright light on a woman whose true legacy has been obscured by centuries of misunderstanding, but whose witness is absolutely foundational to who we are: St. Mary Magdalene.

Within our parish, she holds a place of distinct honor. Furthermore, as a friar of the Dominican Order (Order of Preachers, Independent), she has a profound, personal connection to my own ministry.

Let us dive into the historical truth of this incredible woman, clear away the myths, and celebrate why she matters so deeply to us today.

Dispelling the Myth: She Was Not a Prostitute

For centuries, Western tradition unfortunately conflated Mary Magdalene with other biblical figures, leading to the widespread belief that she was a reformed prostitute. This simply does not align with the Gospel accounts.

The misconception largely stems from a homily delivered by Pope Gregory the Great in the year 591, where he combined three distinct New Testament figures into one person:

• Mary of Magdala, from whom seven demons were cast out (Luke 8:2)
• Mary of Bethany, the sister of Martha and Lazarus (Luke 10:39)
• The unnamed “sinful woman” who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7

The Gospels themselves never paint Mary Magdalene as a prostitute or a public sinner. Instead, they introduce her as a woman of independent means who, after being healed by Jesus, became one of His most prominent disciples and a crucial financial supporter of His ministry. It is time we fully shed the unbiblical labels and honor her for who she truly was: a faithful, courageous leader.

The Historical Facts: The First Witness of the Resurrection

When we stick strictly to the Scripture and early church history, Mary Magdalene’s true stature emerges. She was not a peripheral figure; she was at the very center of the Paschal Mystery.

• Unwavering Courage: When the male disciples fled in fear during the Passion, Mary Magdalene stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross alongside the Blessed Mother.
• The First Evangelist: On Easter morning, she was the very first person to encounter the Risen Christ.
• The Commission: Jesus specifically chose her to bear the news of the Resurrection to the hiding Apostles. Because of this divine commissioning, the early Church Fathers—most notably St. Thomas Aquinas—bestowed upon her the glorious title: Apostolorum Apostola (The Apostle to the Apostles).

Patroness of the Order of Preachers & The Symbol of the Cross

Why does Mary Magdalene hold such a massive place in my heart as a Dominican? Long before our order was formally founded by St. Dominic in the 13th century, Mary Magdalene was claimed as our patroness and protectress.

Dominicans are the Order of Preachers (OP). Our entire charism is built around going out into the world, proclaiming the Truth, and announcing the Good News of the Gospel. Mary Magdalene did exactly that. She did not keep the joy of the empty tomb to herself; she ran to announce it. She is the archetype of the Dominican vocation—contemplating the Lord and sharing the fruits of that contemplation with others.

This call to preach the absolute truth (Veritas) is visually anchors our identity. In our tradition, the Dominican cross—a beautiful cross floury, stylized with lily-like ends—is divided cleanly into black and white.

• The white represents purity, light, and the joy of Christ’s Resurrection.
• The black represents penance, sacrifice, and the mantle of humility worn while serving the world.

Mary Magdalene perfectly mirrors this beautiful emblem. Her sorrow at the foot of the Cross represents the black mantle of grief and penance, while her joy at the empty tomb represents the brilliant white light of the Resurrection that she was chosen to proclaim.

Celebrating the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene: July 22nd

In the Dominican tradition, July 22nd is not just a standard memorial—it is celebrated with the highest rank of liturgical joy. For centuries, the Order has sung special hymns, chanted proper responsories, and highlighted her specific role as the herald of grace.

In 2016, the wider Church formally elevated her liturgical date from a Memorial to a Feast, placing her on the same liturgical level as the male Apostles. When we gather at St. Michael’s on July 22nd, we honor her with:

1. The Singing of the Gloria: A joyful inclusion in the Mass that underscores her apostolic importance.
2. Special Intentions for Preachers: Praying for all who are called to voice the Gospel, asking that they receive her same unshakeable courage.
3. A Rededication to Truth: Remembering that the truth sets us free, and like Mary, we must be bold enough to speak it even when others are hiding in fear.

Why She Graces St. Michael’s Parish

At St. Michael’s, we cherish her as one of our pillar saints for a very specific reason: she embodies the radical hospitality and inclusivity of the Unified Old Catholic Church.

She reminds us that Christ calls everyone to ministry, breaking down traditional barriers. Her presence in our parish reminds us to look past the labels the world tries to pin on people, to seek the truth of every individual’s dignity, and to boldly proclaim the gift of life and family.

May we all have the fierce loyalty of Mary Magdalene to stand by Christ in difficult times, and her joyful courage to proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!”

Homily: The Fragrance of the Lily: St Kateri Tekakwitha.

​Introduction:

​In the liturgical calendar, we often encounter giants of the faith who altered the course of empires or penned massive theological treatises. Yet, some of the most radiant witnesses are those whose lives were defined by quiet endurance, deep ecological stewardship, and an unwavering devotion to Christ. Today, we reflect on Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, a young Algonquin-Mohawk woman of the seventeenth century, whose life reminds us that holiness does not require a grand worldly stage—only an open and courageous heart.

​Grace Amidst Scars

​Kateri’s earthly journey was marked by profound suffering from its earliest days. Surviving a smallpox epidemic that took her family, she was left with impaired vision and facial scarring. In her own community, she became an outsider, particularly when she chose to follow the path of Christ. Her story teaches us that our scars—whether physical, emotional, or spiritual—do not disqualify us from God’s grace. Instead, Kateri allowed her vulnerabilities to become the very space where divine love dwelt most deeply.

​The Sanctuary of Creation:

​Long before modern movements urged us to protect our planet, Kateri found God in the stillness of the North American forests. Creation was her chapel. She would fashion simple wooden crosses in the woods, using the natural world as an aid to prayer and contemplation. In a world that often moves too fast and values consumption over stewardship, Kateri calls us back to a sacramental view of creation, reminding us to hear the voice of the Creator in the beauty of the earth.

​Conclusion:

​When Kateri passed away at the tender age of twenty-four, witnesses recorded that her facial scars miraculously vanished, leaving her skin radiant and clear. It was a visible sign of the interior transformation that grace had wrought in her soul. May we, like Saint Kateri, walk our unique paths with courage, transform our trials into offering, and leave behind the sweet fragrance of Christ wherever we go.

​A Prayer for the Intercession of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha

​O God, Creator of all things,

You called Saint Kateri Tekakwitha from among the Indigenous peoples of North America

to blossom as a pure lily of faith amidst the woodlands.

​Through her intercession, we pray for:

​Resilience in Trial: Grant us the fortitude to bear our daily crosses and the grace to see our scars as signs of Your healing presence.

​Love for Creation: Inspire us to care deeply for the earth, recognising Your handiwork in all living things.

​Quiet Devotion: Help us to seek moments of stillness and prayer, that we may hear Your gentle voice in the rush of life.

​May her example of pure love and steadfast faith guide our steps closer to Your heart.

​We ask this through Christ our Lord.

​Amen.

Today, we gather to celebrate a man who lived most of his life in the shadows of giants, only to be called into the light by a roll of the dice—or rather, by the mysterious providence of God. We often think of the Apostles as a fixed “dream team,” but the story of St. Matthias reminds us that the Kingdom of God is dynamic, resilient, and always moving forward. After the tragedy of Judas Iscariot, there was a hole in the heart of the Twelve. To the world, that empty seat looked like a failure, a permanent scar on the mission of Christ. But to the early Church, it was a space waiting for God’s next move, proving that while individuals may falter, the Divine plan remains unshakeable.

​What is most striking about Matthias is his unwavering presence. When Peter stood up to find a replacement, the criteria were strict: it had to be someone who had been with them from the very beginning—from the baptism of Jesus by John until the day of the Ascension. This means Matthias was there all along, a silent but steadfast companion in the background of the greatest story ever told. He was there for the feeding of the five thousand. He likely heard the Sermon on the Mount firsthand. He may have been one of the seventy sent out in pairs to heal and preach. Yet, his name is never mentioned in the Gospels. He was a faithful follower who didn’t need a title or a spotlight to stay committed to the Master. His life asks us a difficult question: Are we willing to serve God in the “unnamed” seasons of our lives? Matthias proves that God is watching our consistency even when the world isn’t, and that the “quiet” followers are often the ones God prepares for the greatest tasks.

​The Apostles cast lots to choose between Matthias and Joseph called Barsabbas. While it looks like a game of chance to the secular eye, it was an act of total surrender to the Holy Spirit. They were saying, “Lord, we’ve done our homework and assessed the candidates, but the final decision is Yours.” Matthias didn’t lobby for the position. He didn’t campaign for votes or highlight his qualifications. He simply stood ready. When the lot fell to him, he stepped into a role that promised no earthly glory—only the certainty of persecution, the rigours of travel, and the heavy weight of the Great Commission. He reminds us that our true “call” isn’t about our personal ambition; it’s about our availability to God’s will.

​We all face “empty seats” in our lives—roles we are suddenly asked to fill, shoes that feel far too big for us, or unexpected transitions that leave us feeling ill-equipped. St. Matthias teaches us that preparation happens in those hidden, quiet years of service. Your current faithfulness in small, unrecognised things is preparing you for a future call you cannot yet see. God fills every void; no betrayal, loss, or vacancy can stop the mission of His Church. Ultimately, success in the Kingdom is measured not by fame, but by witness. Matthias’s primary job was to be a witness to the Resurrection. Our job is exactly the same: to show a weary world that Christ is alive through the way we love, the way we serve, and the way we remain faithful when no one is looking.

​A Prayer for the Feast of St. Matthias:

​Heavenly Father, You chose Saint Matthias to share in the office of the Apostles, ensuring that the saving message of the Gospel would reach the ends of the earth. We thank You for his quiet faithfulness and his humble readiness to serve when called from the shadows. Lord, grant us the same spirit of steady devotion. When we feel overlooked or hidden, remind us that You see our hearts and value our presence. When we are called to step into new responsibilities or difficult transitions, give us the courage of Matthias to say “yes” without hesitation. May we, like him, be true and living witnesses to the Resurrection of Your Son in everything we do. Help us to fill the gaps in our own communities with love, to mend what is broken by grace, and to always trust in Your divine providence rather than our own luck. We ask this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

The life of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria stands as an eternal testament to the power of a single soul anchored in the Divine. Known to history as the “Father of Orthodoxy,” his path was defined by a singular, unwavering focus: the preservation of the true nature of Jesus Christ.

In an era where the Arian heresy threatened to unravel the very fabric of the Church by denying the divinity of the Son, Athanasius stood as a solitary bulwark. His lived experience was one of radical sacrifice; he spent over seventeen years of his life in exile, hunted by emperors and misunderstood by peers, yet he famously declared, “If the world is against Athanasius, then Athanasius is against the world.”

This was not a cry of arrogance, but a profound commitment to the reality that the Truth is not subject to the whims of the majority.

​Athanasius understood with perfect clarity that our salvation depends entirely on the Incarnation. He taught that if Christ were merely a created being, He could not bridge the chasm between the Creator and the created. “He became man,” Athanasius wrote, “that we might become divine.” This transformative hope was worth every hardship, every cold night in the Egyptian desert, and every moment of isolation.

His resilience serves as a vital mirror for our own lives today. We often face pressures to dilute our convictions or to blend into the cultural landscape for the sake of comfort.

 Athanasius challenges us to consider what we are building our foundations upon. Are we swayed by the shifting winds of popular opinion, or are we rooted in the ancient, Apostolic faith that has survived empires and outlasted every storm?

​To honour Athanasius is to embrace the “long obedience in the same direction.” It is a call to intellectual rigour, spiritual fervour, and a courage that does not flee when the cost of discipleship rises. Even in his darkest hours of banishment, Athanasius remained a shepherd, writing letters of encouragement and composing treatises that continue to light the way for the faithful centuries later.

 Let us draw strength from his example, remembering that even when we feel outnumbered or overwhelmed, the Word of God remains sovereign. Like the Great Bishop of Alexandria, may we find our peace not in the approval of the world, but in the steadfast confession that Christ is truly God and truly man, our Saviour and our King.

​A Solemn Prayer for Truth and Fortitude:

​Almighty and everlasting God, You raised up Your servant Athanasius to be a valiant champion of the faith and a witness to the glory of Your Son. We yield You hearty thanks for the courage he displayed and the wisdom he bequeathed to Your Church throughout the ages.

​I pray, O Lord, that You would grant us, who are part of the order he inspired, and all the faithful, a portion of his unwavering spirit. In a world of uncertainty and shifting shadows, steady our hearts upon the rock of Your unchanging Truth. When we are tempted to compromise, grant us Your strength; when we are weary from the struggle, grant us Your peace.

Let the light of the Incarnate Word guide our every thought and action, that we may live as faithful stewards of the mysteries You have revealed.

​Strengthen our resolve to contend for the Gospel with both charity and conviction. May our lives reflect the beauty of the Truth we profess, so that in all things, Your holy Name may be glorified.

​Through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.

Today we honour St. Joseph not as a silent figure in the background, but as a man of action whose hands shaped the world. In the quiet rhythm of his workshop, Joseph transformed labour into a form of prayer, teaching us that our daily work—no matter how humble—is a primary way we participate in God’s ongoing creation. He reminds us that dignity is found in diligence and that our “everyday” is holy ground.

​St. Joseph did not seek recognition; he sought faithfulness. In our modern world, we are often pressured to define ourselves by our status, our titles, or the size of our paycheck. Yet, Joseph’s life tells a different story. He shows us that there is profound holiness in the mundane—in the sweeping of a floor, the fixing of a door, or the patient tending to a task. He didn’t just work to live; he worked to love, providing for the Holy Family with a heart tethered to the Divine. His workshop was not a place of drudgery, but a sanctuary of service where the Son of God learned the value of a day’s honest toil.

​This feast day invites us to examine our own relationship with our vocations. Do we see our tasks as burdens to be endured, or as opportunities to serve? Joseph’s silence in the Gospels speaks volumes about his character; he didn’t need words to justify his existence because his actions testified to his devotion. He accepted the responsibility of protecting and providing for Mary and Jesus with a steady hand and an unwavering spirit.

​As we reflect on his life, let us find purpose in our own tasks, offering our sweat and skill as a living sacrifice to the Lord. Whether we lead, build, or serve, may we do so with the same quiet strength and integrity that defined the Carpenter of Nazareth. Let us remember that when we work with integrity, we are not just earning a living; we are echoing the creative power of God. May we strive to make our workplaces spaces of justice, kindness, and excellence, mirroring the workshop of Nazareth in our own communities.

​Let us pray:

​Heavenly Father, We thank you for the example of St. Joseph the Worker. Grant us the grace to approach our daily tasks with a spirit of service and love. We pray for those who find no meaning in their labour, that they may discover the hidden dignity within their roles. Support those who are seeking employment and protect those who labour in difficult or dangerous conditions.

​Bless the work of our hands and the intentions of our hearts, that all we do may bring glory to your name and comfort to our neighbours. Through our efforts, may your kingdom come and your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

​Amen.

Beloved, we gather today to celebrate the feast of St. Mark, a man whose life reminds us that the greatest stories are often written by those who start in the shadows. Mark was not one of the original twelve, yet his contribution to our faith is foundational. He was a witness to the witnesses, a tireless companion to Paul and Peter, and the first to commit the “Good News” to written form.

​Mark’s Gospel is unique in its urgency. He uses the word “immediately” over and over, painting a portrait of a Christ who is constantly on the move, healing, teaching, and marching toward the Cross. For Mark, the Gospel was not a static philosophy to be debated; it was a fire that had been lit in the world—a fire that required an immediate response. This urgency teaches us that when God moves, the world changes instantly, and our obedience should be just as swift.

​We see in Mark a journey of resilience. Early in his ministry, he faced failure and desertion, causing a rift between Paul and Barnabas. Yet, he did not allow his past stumbles to define his future. He matured, reconciled, and eventually became so vital to the mission that Paul later requested his presence in prison, calling him “profitable for the ministry.” Tradition even suggests he was the young man who fled naked from Gethsemane—the ultimate image of a “messy” beginning transformed into a pillar of the Church.

​The Church symbolizes Mark as a winged lion, representing the “voice crying in the wilderness.” This reminds us that the Gospel is a roar of truth meant to awaken the world. However, Mark also reminds us of the “Messianic Secret,” showing that Christ’s glory is inseparable from his suffering. We do not just follow a miracle worker; we follow a Suffering Servant.

​Mark teaches us that being a disciple doesn’t require perfection; it requires persistence. Whether you are a scholar of the Word or a seeker in the pews, you are called to be an evangelist in your own sphere. Like Mark, we are called to take the raw, often messy experiences of our lives and translate them into a testimony of God’s grace.