Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

April 4, 2021

Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

April 4, 2021

Deacon Anthony J. Cincotta

Saint Mary Magdalen Parish, Media, PA

 

Acts of the Apostles 10:34a, 37-43

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

Letter to the Colossians 3:1-4

John 20:1-9

 

            HE IS RISEN! 

            I am quite certain that as you read today’s Gospel narrative ever one is running.  Saint Mary Magdalen (our parish patron) comes to the tomb and when she sees the stone is rolled away, she runs to tell Saints Peter and John who in turn start running.  They raced to the tomb.  John ran faster, and he got there first.  They were incredibly excited even though they did not fully understand what had happened.  But the most important line in the Gospel tells us, “And he saw and believed.”

            But what about us?  Why do we believe?  We did not see His empty tomb.  We believe because His apostles told us what they saw and their testimony was handed down through the centuries in Jesus’ Holy Catholic Church.

            Saint Paul, in our second reading, tells us our lives are now “hidden with Christ.”  This is the blessing that Jesus promised.  The blessing that comes through faith.  Our baptism makes us part of the family of God, His Church.  As his family, we gather this Sunday and every Sunday, just as His apostles used to do, to celebrate His Resurrection.  That is what every Eucharist is!

            Friends, let us remember today’s Gospel message.  Today we hear truly great news.  On Easter morning, the stone was rolled away from the mouth of the tomb.  As Pope Francis reminds us, We are called to be people of joyful hope, not doomsday prophets.”  Because of the resurrection of Jesus, we can all have hopeful joy, and go out to share it with the world.

            Let us live our lives with joy, for He is Risen!

            I wish all of you and your families Easter blessings. 

Question of the Day:  Are you like Mary Magdalen who told the others the news of resurrection or like the apostles who responded immediately by running to the tomb to see for themselves?

Prayer:  “Let us acclaim Jesus Christ, risen from the dead that we might rise with him.” 

Prosit