“He is Risen. Alleluia!”

Easter Sunday Readings

“He is Risen. Alleluia!”

The gospel reading recounting the resurrection appearance of Jesus to Mary Magdalene is a very moving episode. However, Mary’s resurrection experience was only the climax of her discipleship, preceded by other experiences. In fact, Mary had made a long journey of faith as far as her relationship with Jesus was concerned. There was a time when Mary did not know Jesus. Her life was her own affair. In fact, her life was not even her own; she was possessed by a legion. It was Jesus who had set her free. But once she was set free by Jesus she began to follow him. That is the first stage in her faith - ‘from not knowing to following Jesus’. Once she knew Jesus she began following him. She did it her own way. She followed him by sitting at his feet and listening to him. Jesus quotes her example to Martha, on one of his visits. She followed him by looking after his needs. In fact, she is even there at the sight of the crucifixion. She has followed him on he way to calvary. That brings us to the second stage of her faith journey - from knowing to following.

This die-hard following is what leads her to the experience she has on that first Easter morning. That experience of hers was an intense experience of the presence of the risen Christ in her, outside her... wherever she went. That experience was a reward as it were that Christ has for those who follow him faithfully. That’s the third stage of her faith journey - from following to experiencing.

The last stage is the resposibility that flows from this faith experience. Christ asks her to share that experience. She is given the responsibility to make his resurrection and her experience know to those who need to know that. That’s the fourth stage - from experiencing to witnessing.

On Easter Sunday morning, let us thank Jesus for his resurrection and thank God for our lively faith. May Mary Magdalene be our model in faith.

Let us end this reflection in the words of Psalm 118:

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”

“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.”

The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.