Gospel Reflection Apr 17 – Msgr. Hendricks
Sunday, April 17
Easter Sunday the Resurrection of the Lord
John 20: 1-9
Gospel:
On the first day of the week,
Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning,
while it was still dark,
and saw the stone removed from the tomb.
So she ran and went to Simon Peter
and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them,
“They have taken the Lord from the tomb,
and we don’t know where they put him.”
So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb.
They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter
and arrived at the tomb first;
he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in.
When Simon Peter arrived after him,
he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there,
and the cloth that had covered his head,
not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place.
Then the other disciple also went in,
the one who had arrived at the tomb first,
and he saw and believed.
For they did not yet understand the Scripture
that he had to rise from the dead.
Gospel Reflection:
In our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, Peter begins with, “You know what has happened over all Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism John preached, how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth…
This begins the long journey of the life and teachings of Jesus that culminate in His trial and death.
Easter begins a new journey for the Church and us as He is Risen from the dead! Death and sin are overcome for the world and we begin anew to live in Him and perform good works in His name.
It has been a long and sometimes difficult two years with COVID among us, with our lives changed in so many ways. And now we face new challenges with the economy and the conflict in Ukraine and Russia.
Over all of this and in the midst of all of this the Church and our faith again cries out with Alleluia. New life in Christ is abundant and visible and our faith endures.
Easter is about the one thing that we all long for deep down, peace and unity with God in Christ.
Reflect on these glorious readings from the scripture today and wherever you spend the Easter Day give thanks and relax in the light that the Risen Christ has brought you. Pray also for those in need who continue to suffer in any way.
At its root, Easter is about moving on with our eyes fixed on Christ.
Happy Easter!
Msgr. Hendricks