Share the Unbounded Easter Joy!"

Today's Mass Readings

Alleluia! Christ is risen, alleluia! For most people in the United States, Easter has come and gone. It is over in one day; even the Easter candy is now on sale. But for the Church, Easter Sunday is only the beginning of the Easter season. Today, Monday, is the second day in the octave of Easter. All of the days from Easter Sunday through to the following Sunday rank as solemnities, the highest holy days in the liturgical year of the Church. The gospel reading from Matthew explicitly continues the Easter theme, as the two Marys go away from the tomb “fearful yet overjoyed” (Mt. 28:8). They want to share the news of the empty tomb to all the disciples. Upon encountering Jesus, he himself commissions the women to tell the disciples to go onto Galilee where they will see him. Meanwhile, we see the chief priests, elders, and soldiers collaborating to obscure what really happened at the tomb. The message of the good news, the resurrection and appearance of Jesus is left to the responsibility of women. It is for this reason that Mary Magdalene has traditionally been known as “the apostle to the apostles.”

So what did the apostles do upon hearing the news of Jesus’ resurrection and appearances? The answer to this question can be found in the first readings during the Easter season – all from the Acts of the Apostles. As this Easter season commences, so also commences our journey with the early Church. In many ways, this book of the Bible reads like an adventure story. Today’s adventure begins with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost (which the Church formally celebrates at the conclusion of the Easter season). Like Mary Magdalene, Peter cannot keep the gospel message to himself. He must share the good news. Hence in this first reading, Peter preaches the gospel, full force!

As we begin our fifty days of unbounded Easter joy, let us recall that what comes from this joy is the desire to share it with others. Like Mary Magdalene, like Peter, we rejoice, we exalt, we celebrate our risen Lord! So may we, like them, share this joy of the risen Christ with those around us.

In both words and actions, let us witness to the fact that the joy of the Lord is our strength! We have not been abandoned by God, but redeemed! Let us pray that our very lives give testimony to this Easter joy! Alleluia!

- Maria Morrow