"Do not be afraid! I know that you are seeking Jesus the crucified. He is not here, for he has been raised just as he said"
—Matthew 28:5-6
Alleluia! He is risen! Easter is the most joyous feast of the year. Christ's death and resurrection is the foundation of the Christian Faith.
The Church is now filled with the light of Christ. It is no longer silent as we join our songs of praise with the choirs in heaven. We are reminded of Christ's promise "I will give you a joy which no one will take from you." (John 16:22). Easter is the beginning of our new life with Christ. Although our Lenten Journey is complete don't forget to create times of prayer in your daily lives where you can spend time with our Risen Lord.
As we reflect on today's readings, especially the Gospel, let us ask the Risen Christ for courage and strength we need to take His Light into the world.
GOSPEL READING FOR EASTER SUNDAY
The Resurrection of Jesus
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.
PASSION MEDITATION FROM ST. ALPHONSUS LIGUORI
“You shall draw water from the fountains of the Savior, and you shall say in that day, Praise ye the Lord, and call upon His name. The wounds of Jesus Christ are now the blessed fountains from which we can draw forth all graces, if we pray unto them with faith: And a fountain shall come forth from the house of the Lord, and shall water the torrent of thorns. The death of Jesus, says Isaias, is precisely this promised fountain, which has bathed our souls in the water of grace, and, from being thorns of sins, has, by his merits, transformed them into flowers and fruits of life eternal.
He, the loving Redeemer, made himself, as St. Paul tells us, poor in this world, in order that we, through the merit of his poverty, might become rich: For your sakes He became poor, that, through His poverty, you might be rich.By reason of sin were ignorant, unjust, wicked, slaves of hell; but Jesus Christ, says the Apostle, by dying and making satisfaction for us, is by God made for us Wisdom, Justice, Sanctification, and Redemption. That is to say, as St. Bernard explains it, ‘Wisdom, in his preaching, justice in his absolving, sanctification in his conduct, redemption in his Passion.’ He has made himself our wisdom by instructing us, our justice by pardoning us, our sanctity by his example, and our redemption by his Passion, delivering us from the hands of Lucifer. In short, as St. Paul says, the merits of Jesus Christ have enriched us with all good things, so that we no more want for anything in order to be able to receive all graces: In all things you are made rich; so that nothing is wanting to you in any grace.”
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This article has been updated. It was originally published in April 2012. © The Catholic Company. All rights reserved.