Sunday, April 17
Easter Sunday The Resurrection of the Lord
Readings
First Reading
Acts 10:34a, 37-43
Peter proceeded to speak and said: “You know what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses of all that he did both in the country of the Jews and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree. This man God raised on the third day and granted that he be visible, not to all the people, but to us, the witnesses chosen by God in advance, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commissioned us to preach to the people and testify that he is the one appointed by God as judge of the living and the dead. To him all the prophets bear witness, that everyone who believes in him will receive forgiveness of sins through his name.”
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23.
R (24) This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
R This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
“The right hand of the LORD has struck with power;
the right hand of the LORD is exalted.
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.”
R This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
R This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.
Second Reading
Colossians 3:1-4
Brothers and sisters: If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Think of what is above, not of what is on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ your life appears, then you too will appear with him in glory.
Sequence
Victimae paschali laudes
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems;
Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen;
to Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
Gospel Acclamation
Cf. 1 Corinthians 5:7b-8a
R. Alleluia, alleluia...
Christ, our paschal lamb, has been sacrificed;
let us then feast with joy in the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia...
Gospel
John 20:1-9
On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala 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.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.”
Reflection
On this Easter day, we see Mary of Magdala come to the tomb of Jesus. She arrives very early in the morning to avoid detection. As she approaches the tomb, she observes that the large stone that was sealing the tomb has been rolled back, and she knows something unusual has taken place. The woman, who wished to go unnoticed, now runs to Simon Peter and to John to tell them what has taken place. Both Simon Peter and John are alarmed and run to the tomb. Upon entering, Peter and John find the body of Jesus is missing, with only the burial shroud remaining.
These loyal followers, Disciples of Christ, realize that something either criminal, or miraculous, has occurred and that they are the witnesses to the aftermath. What we easily forget is that they did not yet have an understanding of Scripture, and did not realize that Jesus had to rise from the dead.
One can only imagine the panic that these three would have experienced. Mary of Magdala, whom Jesus had shown mercy, cannot pay her respects to the one who respected her when others disavowed her. Peter, who had tried to prevent Jesus from washing his feet in service to him, has not only seen Jesus be crucified on a cross and die but believes that someone has either stolen or moved the body of his savior. John, the youngest Disciple and the one who appears to be the closest to Jesus, observes what Mary of Magdala and Peter observe. John, however, because of his youth, is still trying to deal with the loss of his friend. He cannot believe he has lost him a second time.
We all can feel what these people are feeling in some way. We too feel the sadness and loss of Jesus when he dies on the cross on Good Friday. What we understand, some 2,000 years later, is that Jesus is missing from the tomb because he has risen from the dead. Let us rejoice in our understanding, while we acknowledge the feelings of those who first visit the empty tomb and contemplate its meaning.
Happy Easter!
Fr. John
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