The Resurrection of the Lord

The Mass of Easter Day

First Reading Acts 10, 34a, 37-43

Responsorial Psalm Ps 118, 1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Second Reading Col 3, 1-4

Gospel Jn 20, 1-9

Dear Brothers and sisters, the Lord has Risen. Hallelujah, Hallelujah! Today, we gather to celebrate the most profound and joyous truth of our faith: The Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ. The empty tomb is at the heart of our faith, it’s not just a historical detail but a profound sign of God’s victory over sin and death.

In the first reading from Acts, Peter boldly proclaims that Jesus, who was crucified, has risen, and that all who believe in Him will receive forgiveness of sins. The Psalm echoes this triumphant message, declaring that “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” Saint Paul, in his letter to the Colossians, urges us to set our minds on heavenly things, reminding us that through Christ’s resurrection, we are called to new life. And in the Gospel of John, we witness the powerful moment when Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John discover the empty tomb, an open doorway to salvation and eternal hope.

The empty tomb confirms that Jesus has risen. When Mary Magdalene, Peter, and John arrived, they expected to find the body of Christ, but instead, they found the stone rolled away and the grave clothes left behind. This wasn’t just an absence; it was a declaration. Jesus had conquered death, just as He had promised. The Resurrection of Christ changes everything. It confirms that love is stronger than death, that grace is more powerful than sin, and that hope is not an illusion but a divine promise.

The empty tomb signifies a new beginning. For the disciples, it turned their sorrow into joy and their fear into courage. It was the moment they realized that everything Jesus taught was true, He is the resurrection and the life. The tomb wasn’t just empty; it was full of promise. And for us, this profound truth invites transformation. It is a call to renewal, a promise of victory over sin and death, and an invitation to live as people of the light.

Finally, the empty tomb demands a response. The Resurrection calls us to faith, hope, and action. Just as Mary Magdalene ran to share the good news, we too are called to proclaim that Christ lives, not just in history, but in our lives. Mary Magdalene did not keep this revelation to herself, she ran to share the news. Peter and John hurried to confirm what she had seen. Their response teaches us something essential: The Good News is meant to be shared. This is our mission as witnesses to the Resurrection. We must not simply celebrate Christ’s triumph in words, we must live it in actions. To share the Resurrection is to embody its truth: to bring light where there is darkness, to forgive as Christ forgave, to extend mercy where there is judgment, and to proclaim love where there is hatred.

In our daily lives, sharing the Resurrection might mean comforting those who suffer, standing up for those who suffer injustice, being a presence of peace in conflict, and offering kindness to those in need. It is through these acts that we show that Jesus is alive, not just in history, but in our hearts and in our world today.

So today, as we stand before the empty tomb, we must ask ourselves: How am I sharing the Resurrection with others? Am I living as a true witness of the risen Christ? Let us not leave this celebration unchanged. Instead, let us go forth with the same urgency as Mary Magdalene, proclaiming with our lives that Jesus is risen, and His victory is our hope.

Happy Easter and may God bless you.