22 Jul 25 – Israel: Still the Promised Land?

Today's Topics: 1) Gospel - John 20:1-2, 11-18 - On the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, "They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don't know where they put Him." Mary stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping?" She said to them, "They have taken my Lord, and I don't know where they laid Him." When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, "Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?" She thought it was the gardener and said to Him, "Sir, if You carried Him away, tell me where you laid Him, and I will take Him." Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to Him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, "Stop holding on to Me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to My brothers and tell them, 'I am going to My Father and your Father, to My God and your God.'" Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, "I have seen the Lord," and then reported what He told her. Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene Saint Mary, pray for us! Bishop Sheen quote of the day 2) Is Israel still the promised land? https://frjosephfessiosj566892.substack.com/p/is-israel-still-the-promised-land 3) Pope Leo condemns Gaza barbarity as 93 reportedly killed by Israeli fire while waiting for food https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jul/20/pope-condemns-barbarity-of-israel-war-gaza 4) Mike Huckabee rebukes attackers of Christian church and village: “Crime against humanity and God” https://www.christianpost.com/news/mike-huckabee-condemns-attack-on-christian-church-in-west-bank.html