Rushing in hope to a tomb – and discovering life everlasting...
Reflections on the readings for the Mass of Easter Day (April 1, 2018): ACTS 10:34,37-43, PS 118:1-2,16-17,22-23, COL 3:1-4, JN 20:1-9
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
The paralyzing burden of grief that numbed Jesus’ disciples following His death on Good Friday was suddenly vanquished on Sunday.
Mary Magdalene went to His tomb and found it empty. “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.… They both ran.… The other disciple also went in…and he saw and believed” (John 20:2, 4, 8). Peter and then John saw that the body of their beloved Master was no longer there. The Gospel indicates that John was the first to grasp the reality of this momentous event. He believed. He knew with his whole soul that Jesus had risen from the dead just as He had promised His Apostles that He would.
And everything that Jesus had said was true. He was the Messiah, the Redeemer sent by the Father to die – and live again – for our salvation. The light of Easter morning revealed that the hope of eternal life now belongs to every person who believes in Christ and chooses His way of love and mercy. Alleluia!