Easter Sunday

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April 1, 2018

Acts 10:34, 37-43; Psalm 118; Colossians 3:1-4; John 20:1-9

The most important fact that we know for sure about Mary Magdalene is that she certainly had a special place in her heart for Jesus of Nazareth. Her love and kindness is remembered by each of the Evangelists on this first Eastern morning. She undoubtedly had sleepless nights as she waited for the first day of the week when she could prepare her friend’s body for burial. She saw his wounds and watched him die and through great risk she passed through darkness of night to arrive at a frightening cemetery outside the city walls to visit his tomb. She wanted to pay respects and commend him to God, as a good friend would do.

You can imagine her loss and the depth of her grief as she approaches the tomb and sees that the stone has been rolled away. She wonders what happened and peers into the tomb to see if his body was there, but it was not. And she ran across town out in confusion and horror to see Peter and the Disciple whom Jesus loved. Death simply is not complete unless we lay the body in a casket and put it in a tomb for everlasting rest. Dignity is part of death and Mary would not deprive Jesus of his just dignity.

Death is not easy. The person we love is gone forever and there is no possible way to replace their presence with us. Their place in our lives leave a void that no one else can understand. A part of us dies when a loved one dies. Grief is the most mysterious of emotions and we seldom behold the power of death. Death is fierce, and it is a power that is going to come for us at some point. Most times, we refuse to even contemplate our death.

Mary Magdalen loved Jesus and love always wins. God shows us that love has no boundaries, and it extends beyond the grave. God loved Jesus of Nazareth so much that he vindicated him by bringing him back from the dead. He can die no more, and his resurrection defeats the pain caused by death and sin, and because he loved his friends so much, he came back for them to give them comfort and peace.

He comes back into a broken world with a message like “Don’t be dismayed. All that is broken can be put back together through trust in the love of God. Your loved one will never be returned to you in this world, but because of what God has done for you, you will never be far from them. Your love, God’s love, will keep you together, and death’s grip has been broken. God will weep with you, but God will turn your mourning into tears of joy. You mean that much to God that you will experience deep peace that all has been and will be restored.”

Jesus of Nazareth stepped out of the tomb into our broken world so that we always have a friend who knows our pain. Tenderly, he wants us to realize he has come back specifically for us, just as he did for Mary Magdalen, for Peter, and his Disciples. He came back to pour his generous love into our lives that need mending. All he wants to do is to love us and to share the good news of his victory.

Therefore, go. Leave this tomb. Leave those places of death and gloom and love as Magdalene loved. Because of her kindness, she is remembered forever for her goodness. Love as she did – boldly, extravagantly, deliberately, unconditionally. She carries the love of Christ with her. Her love told the story of his victory. Go into this broken world that waits in darkness for the light that is you.

Scripture for Daily Mass

First Reading: 

Monday: (Acts 2) Peter stands up on Pentecost to proclaim to Jews in Jerusalem that Jesus of Nazareth who they put to death has been vindicated by God and raised to new life.

Tuesday: (Acts 2) When the Jews realize the significance of their actions, they petition Peter to be baptized in the name of Jesus.

Wednesday: (Acts 3) Peter and John heal the crippled man at "the Beautiful Gate" at the temple.

Thursday: (Acts 3) All who witnessed the healing recognize that the man used to be the crippled beggar. Peter and John preach to the Jews gathered at Solomon's portico and tell them all that the prophets and scripture say about Jesus.

Friday (Acts 4) The priests, temple guards, and the Sadducees confront Peter and John and hold them in custody. The religious authorities question their teaching and healing power. The Sanhedrin dismissed them with instructions not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus.

Saturday (Acts 4) Peter, John, and the healed man persevere in their boldness. The Sanhedrin wait to see if this is of God or of another source of power.

Gospel: 

Monday: (Matthew 28) In Matthew, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary meet Jesus on the way and he exhorts them not to be afraid. The chief priests hire soldiers to say, "the disciples came and stole the body of Jesus."

Tuesday: (John 20) Magdalene weeps outside the tomb and thinks Jesus is the gardener, until he speaks to her familiarly.

Wednesday (Luke 24) Two disciples heading towards Emmaus meet Jesus along the way and he opens the scripture for them.

Thursday (Luke 24) As they recount their story to the Eleven, Jesus appears before them, beckons them not to be afraid, and eats with them.

Friday (John 21) Six disciples are with Peter as they fish at the Sea of Tiberius. After a frustrating night of fishing, Jesus instructs them to cast their nets wide and they catch 153 large fish. The beloved disciple recognized the man on the beach as the Lord and they rush to meet him.

Saturday (Mark 16) Jesus appears to Mary Magdalene who told the Eleven about him. Two other disciples on the road returned to speak of their encounter, and then Jesus appears to them while they were at table.

Saints of the Week

No saints are remembered during the Easter octave.

This Week in Jesuit History

·      Apr 1, 1941. The death of Hippolyte Delehaye in Brussels. He was an eminent hagiographer and in charge of the Bollandists from 1912 to 1941.

·      Apr 2, 1767. Charles III ordered the arrest of all the Jesuits in Spain and the confiscation of all their property.

·      Apr 3, 1583. The death of Jeronimo Nadal, one of the original companions of Ignatius who later entrusted him with publishing and distributing the Jesuit Constitutions to the various regions of the early Society.

·      Apr 4, 1534. Peter Faber (Pierre Favre) ordained a deacon in Paris.

·      Apr 5, 1635. The death of Louis Lallemant, writer and spiritual teacher.

·      Apr 6, 1850. The first edition of La Civilta Cattolica appeared. It was the first journal of the restored Society.

·      Apr 7, 1541. Ignatius was unanimously elected general, but he declined to accept the results.